Operating from the USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, VMFA-314 executed multiple strikes on Houthi-controlled weapons storage facilities in Yemen. These facilities contained conventional weapons, including anti-ship missiles, used to target international military and civilian vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
“The F-35C demonstrated its warfighting advantage by transiting contested airspace and striking targets in the heart of Houthi territory over multiple days,” stated Lt. Col. Jeffrey “Wiki” Davis, commanding officer of VMFA-314. “My Marines are honoured to be first to fight with the F-35C.”
The F-35C, a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, is designed for versatility, performing air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strikes, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare missions. Capt. Gerald “Dutch” Tritz, commander of Carrier Air Wing 9, praised the platform’s capabilities, stating, “The offensive and defensive capabilities of the F-35C absolutely enhance our air wing’s striking arm.”
This deployment builds on the F-35 programme’s combat history. The F-35B variant first entered combat in 2018 during operations in Afghanistan and Syria, while the F-35A saw its first missions in 2019 against ISIS targets in Iraq.
VMFA-314 transitioned from the F-18 Hornet to the F-35C in 2020, becoming the first operational squadron in the Navy and Marine Corps to fly the fifth-generation fighter. The “Black Knights” have a distinguished history, being the first to operate the F-4 Phantom and F-18 Hornet.
Currently part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, VMFA-314 is the only deployed F-35C squadron in the Marine Corps, marking a significant milestone in U.S. military aviation and operations.
