An F-35B Lightning II pilot attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122 known as
the "Flying Leathernecks," is given the task of leading F-35 flight operations, aboard
the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA7 ) making it the first time F-35s have operated aboard the ship
A few months after the very first F-35B Landings on the Amphibious assault ship, the USS Tripoli
(LHA- 7) seen here, in the Pacific Ocean, conducted Lightning carrier concept operations
with F-35B Lightning II jets from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225, known as "Vikings" on
30th March 2022.
The Lightning carrier concept sought to use the enhanced aviation facilities of the new
America-class amphibious assault ships to support an air group of F-35Bs, this is in
contrast to the usual mix of helicopters, assault support aircraft and fighter jets.
The concept to dedicate America-class amphibious assault ships to Lightning Carriers as and
when required, no matter how temporary, would give the United States Navy further F-35 Deck
space, allowing greater operational flexibiliy to maintain a consistant presence in carrier
operations, especially when countering the rise of the People's liberation Army Navy (Chinese Navy)
The "Vikings" were then joined by further F-35's from Naval Air Station North Island,
California in April, 2022.
These additional aircraft saw the USS Tripoli briefly operating with 20 F-35B Lightning
II jets from Marine Fighter Attack Squadrons 211 ("Wake Island Avengers") and 225 (Vikings)
both of Marine Aircraft Group 13, also involved 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, as well as Marine
Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1, were all part of the U.S. Marine Corps’
Lightning carrier concept demonstration.
The Lightning carrier concept demonstration showed Tripoli and other amphibious assault
ships are capable of operating as dedicated fixed-wing strike platforms when needed, capable
of bringing fifth generation Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing aircraft wherever they are required.
During the Lightning carrier concept demonstration, Tripoli removed most of her rotary wing aircraft,
allowing operational space for the 20 F-35B aircraft.
The "Wake Island Avengers" have gained alot of experience in the last 18 months, it was
this Marine Corp squadron of F-35B which operated aboard the Royal Navy Flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth R08
they conducted joint operations with RAF 617 Squadron F-35s assigned to HMS Queen
Elizabeth R08 as part of United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group 21
Here, HMS Queen Elizabeth was recorded recently visiting United States Navy base in Norfolk, Virginia, USA
The USS Tripoli crew continues to work hard supporting F-35 operations, seen here docking
at the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.
During her short visit, she will resupply and welcome aboard Marine Fighter Attack Squadron
(VMFA) 121, known as the "Green Knights" from Marine Attack Group 12 to conduct further
F-35B Lightning II flight operations.
This is the first time Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, based at MCAS Iwakuni, has embarked
as a full squadron aboard an amphibious assault ship from this base.
This years F-35b Lightning II USS Tripoli operations could prove to be important for
guiding future carrier operational needs of the United States Navy, with a further nine
America-class amphibious assault ships expected to be built over the next ten years or so,
joining the USS America LHA 6 and USS Tripoli LHA 7 .
These further planned ships could receive some further design changes, the third ship
to be built, to be named USS Bougainville for instance will be the first in its class
with a well deck for deploying amphibious vehicles, furthering their operational capabilty
as amphibious assault ships, however, this years Lightning carrier concept demonstration
if adopted would very likely include further design improvements to fully realise the U.S.
Navy requirement, when needed to "switch" the America-class amphibious assault ships
to a dedicated fixed wing light carrier.