US Marines Extend F-35B Combat Reach Across 4,000-Mile Pacific Route

US Marines extend F-35B combat reach across 4,000-mile Pacific route

U.S. Marines demonstrate how KC-130J aircraft can extend F-35B Lightning II operations across 4,000 nautical miles of the Indo-Pacific.

U.S. Marine Corps extends F-35B combat reach across 4,000 nautical miles with KC-130J forward logistics model in Indo-Pacific

The U.S. Marine Corps has demonstrated how KC-130J aircraft can extend F-35B Lightning II operations across 4,000 nautical miles of the Indo-Pacific.

The KC-130J: Past, present and the future fight

Operation Slingshot demonstrated the KC-130J's current ability to enable critical power projection for the Marine Corps, using its heavy payload capacity to leapfrog ahead of F-35B fighter jets. The KC-130J lands at remote, undeveloped airfields to establish Aviation-Delivered Ground Refueling and re-arming points. During this self-supported movement, the KC-130J traversed a route from Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, through C…