F-35B declared combat ready, but more development remains.

• Author: Magnuson, Stew

* The last day of July was momentous for the Marine Corps as it declared that a squadron of F-35B joint strike fighters was ready for combat.

It was the first of the joint strike fighter models to reach initial operating capability.

"The U.S. Marine Corps decision to make the F-35B ready for combat is a significant event for the F-35 program. The weapons system is now in the warfighters' hands and can be called upon to do its mission," Lt Gen. Christopher Bogdan, F-35 program manager, said in a July 31 statement.

After 14 years of development, the program has plenty of critics along with a few fans. Analysts warned that there is a lot of work remaining for the Marines before the aircraft reaches its full potential.

Bogdan said the service now has a stealth fighter that can fly faster than the speed of sound, carry its weapons internally, conduct short take offs and vertical landings, and be deployed from amphibious ships and austere bases.

Ten F-35Bs stationed at Marine Corps Station Yuma, Arizona, were the first to reach IOC.

Among the congratulatory messages were some warnings. Frank Kendall, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, said the announcement was "also a reminder that we still have work ahead to deliver the full warfighting capability required by all three services and our partners while we continue our successful efforts

to drive cost out of the program."

One of the most expensive and problematic components of the jet fighter has been the software. The F-35B has three tranches of software, but only two have been completed, block 1 and block 2B. The completion of block 2B was required to reach IOC, according to an April 2015 Government Accountability Office report, "F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: Assessment Needed to Address Affordability Challenges."

There are two more blocks remaining called 3i and 3F. The aircraft will not have a full suite of warfighting capabilities until they are completed, GAO said.

"We anticipate the completion of the installation of Block 3F software on all Marine Corps F-35Bs in 2017," Maj. Paul L. Greenberg, a Marine Corps public affairs officer, said in an email to National Defense.

Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, Marine Corps deputy commandant for aviation, said IOC, which includes the 2B software block, allows the aircraft to conduct close-air support, air interdiction, armed reconnaissance, offensive counter air and defensive counter air. This includes live ordnance deliveries, he...