Plans call for the Marine variant of the fighter jet to deploy aboard the amphibious assault ship Essex during a spring 2018 tour to the U.S. Central Command theater of operations, according to a Navy official.
The Essex will be the third gator to operate the F-35B after. Marines did F-35B sea trials aboard the Wasp last year. An F-35B squadron is also expected to head to the Pacific aboard the America, the Navy's newest amphib, in 2018. more
