U.S. Marine Corps activates its 10th operational F-35B Lightning II squadron

The US Marine Corps activated VMFA-231 as its tenth operational F-35B squadron at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point on October 9. The unit received its first F-35B in May and achieved Safe for Flight certification in August, completing its transition from the retired AV-8B Harrier II. Its first training deployment is planned later in October, but Initial Operational Capability remains a separate milestone that the squadron is still working toward. Assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 14 within 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, VMFA-231 adds short-takeoff and vertical-landing capability as the service pursues an objective of 12 active F-35B squadrons.