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Before the Initial Operational Capability, Operational Test-1 was completed. On May 18, 2015, six F-35Bs (4 block 2B and 2 block 3I) landed on the deck of the USS Wasp which was sailing off the coast of North Carolina to begin an eleven day test that would evaluate the full spectrum of the aircrafts suitability and effectiveness on the ship. The two squadrons were joined by pilots and maintainers from Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22 (VMX-22) from Edwards AFB, as well as pilots from the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. The USS Wasp was no stranger to the F-35B having been used for both Developmental Test 1 and 2 with the first F-35B vertical landing taking place on its deck in October 2011.
The tests objectives included the assessment of both day and night flight operations, as well as day and night extended range operations. Other tests included the aircraft-to-ship network communications interoperability, the F-35B landing signals officer's launch and recovery software, and the crew's ability to conduct scheduled and unscheduled maintenance activities. At the end of testing the six planes conducted over 100 sorties and approximately 80 hours in the air without any incidents.
The Royal Air Force and Royal Navy also plan to purchase over 100 of the F-35Bs . Their training will take place at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, along with their Marine counterparts. The F-35B will form the backbone of Britain’s carrier operations providing strike capabilities to the Royal Navy’s two new carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. These ships differ from American amphibious carriers with the installation of a ski jump ramp for short takeoffs in place of the flat deck found on the LHAs and LHDs of the US Navy.
While the F-35 program has received heavy scrutiny over the years due to the fact that its billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule, the IOC should help to quiet some of the skeptics. At least for a few weeks.