U.S. military reveals timing of future F-35 fighter's use to Congress

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/31/us-usa-military-f-idUSBRE94U19220130531



U.S. military reveals timing of future F-35 fighter's use to Congress
WASHINGTON | Fri May 31, 2013 5:30pm EDT

(Reuters) - America's newest warplane, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, will reach operational milestones in 2015 for the Marine Corps, 2016 for the Air Force and 2019 for the Navy, according to details formally provided to the U.S. Congress on Friday.

Those are the dates that Lockheed Martin's F-35 will achieve initial operational capability - the point when the services have enough planes on hand to go to war if needed.

Actual deployments usually lag initial operational capability (IOC) dates by about a year.

Reuters previously reported rough dates, citing sources familiar with the plans.