The Marine Corps is still optimistic it will declare initial operational capability for its new fleet of F-35B strike fighters in 2015, said Lt. Gen. Kenneth Glueck, deputy commandant for combat development and integration, on Thursday. The Marines plan on reaching full operational capability already by 2016, he told reporters in Washington D.C. Additionally, the service is “still on track” to deploy F-35Bs at sea by 2017 aboard the USS Wasp for a western Pacific deployment, he said. “That may be delayed, but that’s due to the schedule of the Wasp,” noted Glueck.?
Boeing received a $2.47 billion Air Force contract Nov. 25 for 15 more KC-46s, bringing to 183 the number of Pegasus tankers on contract to all customers, foreign and domestic. The new contract—for Lot 12 of the initially planned KC-46 buy—is to be completed by 2029.
