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U.S. Marines declare initial F-35 squadron ready for combat: sources
Source: Reuters
US | Fri Jul 31, 2015 11:06am EDT
U.S. Marines declare initial F-35 squadron ready for combat: sources
WASHINGTON | BY ANDREA SHALAL
U.S. Marine Corps Commandant General Joseph Dunford has declared an initial squadron of 10 Lockheed Martin Corp F-35B fighter jets ready for combat, sources familiar with the decision said on Friday.
The decision, to be announced formally later Friday, is a key milestone for the $391 billion F-35 program after years of cost overruns and schedule delays. It also makes the Marines to first U.S. military service to declare an "initial operational capability" of the F-35.
The three models of the plane have been in development since 2001.
The F-35B model of the aircraft can take off from shorter runways and land like a helicopter.
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U.S. Marines declare initial F-35 squadron ready for combat: sources
WASHINGTON | BY ANDREA SHALAL
U.S. Marine Corps Commandant General Joseph Dunford has declared an initial squadron of 10 Lockheed Martin Corp F-35B fighter jets ready for combat, sources familiar with the decision said on Friday.
The decision, to be announced formally later Friday, is a key milestone for the $391 billion F-35 program after years of cost overruns and schedule delays. It also makes the Marines to first U.S. military service to declare an "initial operational capability" of the F-35.
The three models of the plane have been in development since 2001.
The F-35B model of the aircraft can take off from shorter runways and land like a helicopter.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/31/us-lockheedmartin-fighter-idUSKCN0Q51QZ20150731