Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead, and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos on Monday signed an agreement that defines the mix of 680 F-35 strike fighters that their two services collectively will procure. The Navy will buy 260 F-35C aircraft, the variant optimized for aircraft carrier operations. The Marine Corps will buy 80 F-35Cs, along with 340 F-35Bs built for short takeoff and vertical landing. The F-35Cs will fly from Navy aircraft carriers; the F-35Bs will operate from L-class ships. Thomas Laux, the Navy’s deputy assistant secretary for air programs, said this agreement demonstrates the Navy leadership’s commitment to the F-35B, which faces cancellation, if engineers cannot overcome its developmental challenges in the next two years. Laux said the two services will “completely” integrate their F-35 training. By the way, the Air Force intends to purchase 1,763 F-35A aircraft. (AFPS report by Lisa Daniel)
CMSAF Flosi Says He Will Retire
Oct. 14, 2025
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David A. Flosi is retiring following the unexpected death of his wife Katy last month, he announced in an email to the force Oct. 13.
