Breaking News: U.S. Marine VMFA 224 replaces F/A-18D fighter jets with F-35B gaining stealth power.

According to information published by the U.S. Marine Corps on June 27, 2025, Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 has officially been redesignated as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 224 (VMFA-224). It has begun its transition from operating the legacy F/A-18D Hornet to the advanced F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. This transition marks the end of an era for VMFA(AW)-224, which has flown the Hornet for over 32 years in support of U.S. Marine Corps aviation missions worldwide.
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U.S. Marines of VMFA AW 224 in formation during redesignation ceremony marking shift from F/A-18D Hornet to F-35B Lightning II at MCAS Beaufort, June 26, 2025. (Picture source: U.S. Marine Corps)

The transition to the F-35B stealth fighter jet signifies a pivotal modernization milestone for the Marine Corps’ aviation capability, as VMFA-224 prepares its personnel, maintenance teams, and operational doctrines to integrate with the fifth-generation stealth fighter. The squadron anticipates receiving its first F-35B by the end of 2025 and is currently working toward achieving Safe for Flight certification, a critical step that confirms operational readiness for flight operations with the new platform.

Originally designated as Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224, VMFA(AW)-224 played a critical role in providing all-weather, day and night strike capability to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). Operating the F/A-18D Hornet, a two-seat multirole combat aircraft, the squadron specialized in precision air-to-ground strikes, close air support (CAS), suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), and air interdiction under a wide range of environmental conditions. Its all-weather capability was central to operations in austere environments, allowing the squadron to deliver ordnance with precision regardless of visibility or time of day. VMFA(AW)-224 participated in numerous deployments and combat operations, including support missions during Operations Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom, where it delivered combat power in support of U.S. and coalition ground forces.

As VMFA-224 transitions to operating the F-35B Lightning II, its mission profile expands significantly. The F-35B brings unprecedented capabilities in stealth, electronic warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), enabling VMFA-224 to conduct deep strike missions in contested environments with reduced risk of detection. The squadron’s new mission set includes advanced suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses (SEAD/DEAD), integration with naval and joint strike forces in maritime strike operations, and distributed expeditionary operations using short and austere runways. With the F-35B’s advanced data-sharing and sensor fusion technologies, VMFA-224 can now serve as a forward-deployed sensor node, relaying real-time battlespace awareness to enhance the lethality of the entire joint force.

The F/A-18D Hornet, introduced in the late 1980s, is a twin-engine, multirole combat aircraft featuring a second cockpit for a weapons systems officer, enhancing mission coordination and electronic warfare capabilities. It served as a highly reliable platform for precision strikes, maritime interdiction, and tactical air reconnaissance, but it lacks stealth and digital integration capabilities required for high-threat, peer-level conflicts. The F-35B Lightning II, by contrast, is a short-takeoff and vertical-landing (STOVL) aircraft with low-observable stealth, integrated sensors, and advanced networking that enables real-time data fusion across domains.

The transition from the F/A-18D to the F-35B represents a generational leap in capability for VMFA-224 and the broader Marine Corps aviation combat element. It enhances survivability, lethality, and interoperability with joint and allied forces while enabling operations in denied and degraded environments. This upgrade ensures VMFA-224 remains strategically relevant in the evolving global threat landscape, particularly as U.S. forces prioritize readiness in the Indo-Pacific and other contested theaters.

Additionally, VMFA-224’s adoption of the F-35B stealth fighter jet supports the Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030 initiative, which emphasizes dispersed operations, rapid mobility, and integration into naval expeditionary forces. The squadron is expected to operate more flexibly, deploying from amphibious assault ships and remote island bases to project airpower across the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. This evolution positions VMFA-224 at the forefront of next-generation Marine aviation, where its multi-domain, network-centric capabilities will play a pivotal role in future conflicts.