After being disbanded in November 2023 following the last flight with legacy F/A-18C/D Hornets, VMFA-115 is preparing for the reactivation later this year as an F-35C squadron.
The U.S. Marine Corps’ Marine Fighter Attack Squadron-115 (VMFA-115) “Silver Eagles” took a new step towards its impending reactivation later this year, flying for the first time with the F-35C Lightning II on Jul. 31, 2026 at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina. The unit, part of Marine Aircraft Group 31 (MAG-31) within the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW), was disbanded on Nov. 9, 2023 at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, when it flew its legacy F/A-18C/D Hornets for the last time.
“The squadron’s first flight with the F-35C marked a significant milestone in VMFA-115’s reactivation process, as it continues preparations to return to operational service later this year,” said the caption in an image published on the DVIDS network.
View this post on Instagram
At least one F-35C with the markings of VMFA-115 is seen in the images, accompanied by another F-35C with the markings of VMFA-251 “Thunderbolts” (or “T-Bolts”). VMFA-251, which is also based at MCAS Cherry Point, may have lent one of its aircraft for the training flight, as two VMFA-115 pilots were photographed following the landing.
The unit’s first F-35C was piloted by VMFA-115’s commanding officer Lt. Col. Hugh Anderson. A second image showed him standing beside Capt. Jackson Zagurski, another VMFA-115 pilot, which was likely flying the F-35C with VMFA-251’s markings.
A MAG-14 unit under the 2nd MAW, VMFA-251 received its first F-35Cs at MCAS Cherry Point on Sep. 17, 2024. This made VMFA-251 the first East Coast operational F-35C squadron.
VMFA-115 and F-35C
VMFA-115 has previously flown aircraft like the F-4U Corsairs during World War 2, F9F Panthers during the Korean War, F-4 Phantoms during the Vietnam War and finally the legacy Hornet. As mentioned, the unit was then deactivated to start the transition to its next aircraft.
“The squadron’s first flight with the F-35C marked a significant milestone for VMFA-115 as the squadron prepares for official reactivation later this year,” the 2nd MAW said on Instagram.
As of the last available count in December 2025, the Corps’ combined fleet of F-35Bs and Cs stands at 122 aircraft, with 12 and 152 more on order, respectively. The 2026 Marine Corps Aviation Plan (AVPLAN) also mentions VMFA-115, VMFA-224 and VMFA-231 as the squadrons slated to receive Technology Refresh-3 (TR-3) aircraft.
The AVPLAN estimates that a total of 205 F-35Bs and 56 F-35Cs will be delivered to the Corps “by the end of 2026.” With regards to the F-35C transition, the AVPLAN is looking at VMFA-115 acquiring six F-35Cs by FY27, expanding to 10 jets by the first half of FY28, and an ultimate fleet of 12 F-35Cs by FY2031.
皆さんこんばんは。
↓MCAS Cherry Point (NC)にて離陸するF-35C (170611)(2026)
F/A-18CからF-35Cへの再編に伴いMCAS Beaufort (SC)から拠点を変更するVMFA-115 “Eagles”所属機で、再編完了後はF-35C飛行隊としてUSNのCVWへの一時編入等を想定した運用に投入される予定です。 pic.twitter.com/5G57xFMbWA
— akaumigame (@acaumigame) August 4, 2026
USMC F-35 fleet size and organization plan
The USMC has a Program of Record (PoR) of 420 F-35 aircraft. As per the procurement profile adjusted in 2025, these include 12 squadrons with 280 F-35Bs and eight squadrons with 140 F-35Cs. The AVPLAN envisions 10 Primary Aircraft Available (PAA) squadrons, prepared to deploy with Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) onboard amphibious ships or regular U.S. Navy flat tops, part of Carrier Air Wings (CVW).
Marine F-35Cs are also seeing active frontline duty in the current West Asian crisis with Iran. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Aug. 2 released a video of an F-35C from VMFA-314 “Black Knights” being launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, supporting the U.S. blockade against Iran.
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35C stealth fighter jet launches from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) as the aircraft carrier transits the Arabian Sea and supports the U.S. blockade against Iran. As of Aug. 2, CENTCOM has redirected 35 commercial vessels, disabled 2, and boarded 2. pic.twitter.com/Bh84WHh3nu
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 2, 2026
VMFA-314, a squadron under the 3rd MAW currently assigned to Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9) onboard the Lincoln, was also both the first F-35C squadron in the Marine Corps and the first to receive its Safe-For-Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) on Mar. 20, 2020.
The AVPLAN says VMFA-314’s duty with the Navy’s CVW reflects its “commitment to Naval Integration and Tactical Aircraft Integration (TAI) [that] will persist through the TACAIR Transition to F-35.” The document further adds: “Our commitment to Naval Integration will remain steady as we continue to balance Marine Corps TACAIR global priorities with support to CVW deployments.”
