U.S. Marines nearing F-35B combat readiness declaration | Reuters: The U.S. Marine Corps' topaviator flew to an Arizona air base this week as part of a finaleffort to certify the combat-readiness of an initial squadron of10 Lockheed Martin Corp F-35B fighter jets, their pilotsand technicians.
Marine Corps officials were due to brief Lieutenant GeneralJon Davis, deputy commandant for aviation, on a week-long reviewwhich included operational and simulator flights in five coremission areas, an inspection of the maintenance department, andacademics for both pilots and technicians.
If Davis is satisfied, he will brief Marine Corps CommandantGeneral Joseph Dunford, who will decide whether to declare an"initial operational capability," or IOC, of the stealthy newjets, a key milestone for the $391 billion weapons project.
Officials at Lockheed and the Pentagon see the expected Marine Corps declaration as evidence that the F-35 program hasturned the corner after years of cost overruns and scheduledelays.
