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The world’s first operational F-35 unit squadron has been stood up

The US Marine Corps Fighter Squadron VMFA-121 converted from F/A-18A/B Hornets to the F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant, with the unit’s first three F-35Bs delivered to its home base of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma in Arizona to coincide with the inauguration ceremony on November 20.

Although about 40 F-35s are now in operation with the joint service 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB – which comprises the USAF’s 58 fighter squadron, VMFAT-501 of the USMC and the US Navy’s VFA-101 – as well as the integrated test force (ITF) based at NAS Patuxent River and Edwards AFB, VMFA-121 is the first ‘operational’ squadron that will fly the type.

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