U.S. Navy Sailors and Marines conduct heavy live fire from a amphibious assault ship,USS Boxer (LHD 4) - location undisclosed

NATO. Attack aircraft AV-8B Harrier II US Marines arrived in Norway - NATO Exercise Cold Response 2022

Marine Corps F-35B Aces Night Landing

On 12 August,the F-35 Integrated Test Force from NAS Patuxent River,Maryland embarked with two F-35B Joint Strike Fighters on the USS Wasp(LHD-1)for Development Test Phase Two,or DT-II.The US Marine Corps characterises the 18 day test as a key milestone on the path to F-35B initial operating capability,or IOC.The short takeoff-vertical landing aircraft successfully completed eight night landings last Wednesday,piloted by Marine Lt.Colonel C.R."Jimi" Clift,who said the landings went extremely well.This puts the aircraft on course for IOC in 2015,the Marine Corps said.*Besides the dramatic night landings,DT-II consists of expanding the wind envelope for launch and recovery,as well as evaluating mission systems;aircraft operations on a moving flight deck;and shipboard sustainment of the F-35B.*DT-II is the second of three planned shipboard tests of the advanced warplane.An onsite engine removal was also performed in record time to ensure the aircraft's readiness for deployment.When DT-II has been completed,the US Navy and Marine Corps should have enough data to support certification for future shipboard operations,the Marine Corps noted.*The Wasp,an amphibious assault ship which carries a mix of helicopters and STOVL aircraft,had been modified with a composite deck coating for additional heat protection,and installation of equipment to monitor environmmental effects and collect data during the test,as well as relocation of lights and sensors to better accomodate F-35B shipboard landings.*The F-35B is the planned successor to the AV-8B II Harrier,currently the backbone of Marine Corps combat air power.Its development has been a long and costly process,but the successful test should garner more support for continuing the program.

AV-8B Still a Marine Corps Mainstay

With the F-35B Lightning II program trundling along,the US Marine Corps is very glad it has the AV-8B Harrier II jump jet to rely on for fire support,close air support and interdiction missions.The Harrier is to be in service till 2030.
Several upgrades over the years have kept the Harriers in fighting trim,such as equipping 74 of them for night operations with a Forward-Looking Infrared senso;,APG -65 radar;and night-vision-goggle-compatible cockpit.
The Lintening targeting pod gave the aircraft a video downlink capability for improved close air support;time-sensitive targeting;and intelligence,search and rescue.The latest upgrade,6.0 Block,provides a new bomb rack;countermeasure dispensing system;and advanced radar software.
In their essential role with the Marine Air-Ground Task Force,these short-takeoff,vertical-landing warplanes offer the fastest response time of any fixed-wing aircraft.From both austere forward operating bases and amphibious assault ships,the AV-8B has been critical to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan,as it was to Operations Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn and Operations Oddysey Dawn/Unified Protector in Libya.
The Marines had 117 of the Harrier jump jets as of late 2012.

Pakistan Relief Ops Begin

Two helicopters from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit departed from the USS Peleilu(LHA 5)to participate in relief operations for victims of monsoon flooding in Pakistan.They were the first of 19 Marine and Navy helicopters that have been detailed to the mission.
The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group will deploy to Pakistan in late August with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.Its sailors and Marines will provide supplies,transportation and support to the flooded areas along with the Pakistan military.This group is based on the USS Kearsarge(LHD 3).
The Peleilu and the Kearsarge are amphibious assault ships.Besides landing craft,each can carry dozens of aircraft,from helicopters to AV-8B Harrier II jump jets.With a ship's company of about 1,000,they can transport around 2,000 Marines and their gear anywhere in the world.Northrop Grumman builds them,and is working on the first of the new America class of amphibious assault ship,scheduled for delivery in 2013.
The situation in Pakistan is grave,being described as worse than the Haiti earthquake and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami combined.Thousands were killed,but millions are homeless.Disease is spreading.The Pakistani people have welcomed aid from U.S. servicemembers,but militants are discouraging it.