Marines in SC getting ready for new F-35 jets

The Marine Corps broke ground Thursday on a $70 million first installment toward a new era of F-35 jets at the air station in Beaufort.

Maj. Gen. Jon Davis, the commanding general for the 2nd Marine Air Wing, and Col. Brian Murtha, the Beaufort base's commanding officer, helped local officials turn over the first shovels of dirt for the ceremony.

"We have to be prepared for the jets and for everyone to come by Jan. 1, 2014," said Marine Corps spokeswoman 1st Lt. Sharon Hyland. "We have a lot to do before they arrive and this is the first phase of that work."

The Navy announced late last year that it intended to place three new active duty F-35 squadrons and two pilot training squadrons at the air station for a total of 88 aircraft.

The stealthy aircraft are designed to be the next generation of fighters for the Marines, Navy and Air Force and will replace the F-18 Hornets flown out of Beaufort.

The Marine version will be able to take off and land vertically and the new construction at the base will include a vertical lift off pad for pilot training.

The work begun on Thursday includes a $37 million, 60,900-square-foot hangar.

It is designed for parking seven of the jets inside and 18 on a parking ramp under sunshades. The multi-story hangar includes a maintenance bay, shop and administrative offices, pilot briefing rooms and data network offices, Hyland said.

The $33 million pilot training and simulation center will support 78 pilots a year and includes classrooms, briefing rooms, flight simulators, equipment rooms and administrative offices. It is 101,000 square feet.

Construction will take about two years.

In all, there will be about $350 million in construction at the base as it prepares to house the new stealth fighters.

Hyland said security will have to be tighter for the stealth aircraft, which are designed to evade opponents' radars and electronic attacking devices.


Source: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C. - Thursday, September 1, 2011 (AP)

Photo: US Marines new F-35 stealth fighter aircraft

(2.09.2011)