The U.S. Marine Corps plans to deploy its version of the F-35 fighter jet in the late part of next year to the Western Pacific region, Navy Times reported Thursday.Adm. Scott Swift, chief of Pacific Fleet, said the Navy will station the F-35B variant will be stationed onboard an amphibious ship with a support escort force, David Larter reports.
A surface action group will also act to protect the amphibious assault ship, according to the report.
F-35B achieved initial operational capability in July 2015 and is going through tests prior to the 2017 deployment, the report says.
