The Marine Corps is replacing the AV-8B Harrier and F/A-18 Hornet with the F-35B and F-35C, but this is about more than a new fighter jet. The F-35 is changing Marine Corps aviation, close air support, expeditionary warfare, tactical air power, and how Marines operate in a future war against advanced air defenses. In this video, we break down Marine F-35 strategy, F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing operations, F-35C carrier operations, readiness problems, logistics challenges, austere basing, sensor fusion, data sharing, and what all of this means for the future of Marine air power.
00:00 – Intro
00:54 – A little Marine aviation history
03:22 – What the F-35 brings
07:07 – Expeditionary warfare and the F-35
08:53 – F-35 readiness rates
11:45 – Keeping the F-35 connected to data
16:52 – Channel updates
Recorded on: April 10th, 2026
Written by: David Roza
Edited by: Savvy
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