Aircraft
U.S. Services Declare F-35 Operational Capability Dates
U.S. military services declared their planned initial operational capability dates for the three variants of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
An F-35B from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 conducted the first vertical landing outside a testing environment at the Yuma, Ariz., Marine Corps air station on March 21. (Photo: U.S. Marine Corps)
An F-35B from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 conducted the first vertical landing outside a testing environment at the Yuma, Ariz., Marine Corps air station on March 21. (Photo: U.S. Marine Corps)

Responding to a requirement of the Fiscal Year 2013 defense authorization act, U.S. military services declared their planned initial operational capability (IOC) dates for the three variants of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) on May 31. The legislation required the services to establish IOC dates by June 1.