Keywords: u.s. navy usnavy u.s. air force usairforce u.s. marine corps usmarinecorps maritime strategy maritimestrategy italy uk united kingdom unitedkingdom united states unitedstates cooperative relationships cooperativerelationships sailors marines airmen uss america ussamerica lha 6 lha6 people f-35b f35b joint strike fighter jointstrikefighter lightning ii lightningii dt-iii dtiii developmental testing developmentaltesting vx-23 vx23 vmx-1 vmx1 san diego sandiego us outdoor 161030-N-VR008-0144 PACIFIC OCEAN (Oct. 30, 2016) A Marine Corps test pilot salutes before launching an F-35B Lightning II aircraft from the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). The F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant is the world’s first supersonic STOVL stealth aircraft. America, with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 (VMX-1), Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VMFA-211) and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 (VX-23) embarked, are underway conducting operational testing and the third phase of developmental testing for the F-35B Lightning II aircraft, respectively. The tests will evaluate the full spectrum of joint strike fighter measures of suitability and effectiveness in an at-sea environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyle Goldberg/Released) 161030-N-VR008-0144 PACIFIC OCEAN (Oct. 30, 2016) A Marine Corps test pilot salutes before launching an F-35B Lightning II aircraft from the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). The F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant is the world’s first supersonic STOVL stealth aircraft. America, with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 (VMX-1), Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VMFA-211) and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 (VX-23) embarked, are underway conducting operational testing and the third phase of developmental testing for the F-35B Lightning II aircraft, respectively. The tests will evaluate the full spectrum of joint strike fighter measures of suitability and effectiveness in an at-sea environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyle Goldberg/Released) |