A new Marine Strategy Update and remembering an accomplished astronaut
The USMC updates its aviation strategy and looking back on an exceptional aviator
“If you’re in a fair fight, you didn’t plan it properly.”
— Col. Richard ‘Dick’ Marcinko, USN (SEAL)
Mission Briefing:
The U.S. Marine Corps has released its first aviation strategy update in three years, unveiling a cutting-edge vision for the future of Marine aviation. Dubbed the 2025 Marine Corps Aviation Plan, this roadmap prioritizes autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and advanced drones to ensure Marine aircraft remain lethal and survivable in modern war zones.
At the heart of this transformation is Project Eagle, a modernization effort designed to enhance readiness, embrace technological innovation, and expand combat power across all domains. Col. Derek Brannon, of Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation, described the initiative as a bold step forward:
“We are committed to shaping a future aviation force that is ready, resilient, and capable of rapidly responding to emerging threats, wherever they may arise.”
Adapting to the Next Battlefield: Distributed and Decision-Centric Operations
The plan focuses on two key concepts for generating Marine airpower in contested environments:
✈️ Distributed Aviation Operations (DAO) – A strategy that spreads out aviation forces across the battlefield, making it harder for enemies to target them. This approach includes decentralizing command-and-control and keeping aviation assets mobile.
🤖 Decision-Centric Aviation Operations – A method that uses artificial intelligence and automation to dramatically accelerate the speed of decision-making, ensuring Marine aviation can rapidly adapt to threats.
To support these concepts, the Marine Corps is making major investments in infrastructure, training, and personnel to become a fully data-driven force. The plan states that "linear incremental change will not be sufficient", signaling a need for bold, transformative leaps in technology and strategy.
Shifting Gears: More Carrier-Based F-35Cs, Fewer STOVL F-35Bs
One of the most significant changes in the 2025 Aviation Plan is a shift in the Marine Corps' F-35 procurement strategy. While the total buy of 420 F-35s remains unchanged, the Corps is doubling its purchase of F-35Cs—the carrier-based variant—while reducing its order for the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35Bs.
New F-35 Fleet Breakdown:
✅ 280 F-35Bs (down from 353 in the 2022 plan)
✅ 140 F-35Cs (up from 67 in the 2022 plan)
The shift supports greater carrier integration, with four squadrons—VMFA-232, VMFA-323, VMFA-112, and VMFA-134—transitioning to the F-35C. This will leave the Marine Corps with:
🔹 12 F-35B squadrons
🔹 8 F-35C squadrons
By the end of 2025, the Marine Corps expects to have 183 F-35Bs and 52 F-35Cs in service, with an increased focus on collaborative combat aircraft (CCA)—drone wingmen designed to fly alongside the F-35.
Investing in the Future: Sustainment, Drones, and AI-Driven Logistics
The Marine Corps recognizes that traditional aircraft sustainment methods are no longer enough to meet the challenges of modern warfare. The 2025 Aviation Plan prioritizes:
🔧 Redesigning support equipment to make it more efficient, safe, and effective.
📡 Modernizing training systems to better prepare aviation personnel.
🛠️ Expanding the use of 3D printing, digital modeling, and AI-driven logistics to strengthen the supply chain.
💡 Encouraging innovation among Marine aviation sustainment crews to develop new maintenance solutions.
By integrating AI, automation, and advanced sustainment techniques, the Marine Corps aims to extend the operational lifespan of its aircraft while maintaining high readiness in contested environments.
The Bottom Line: A Leaner, More Lethal Marine Aviation Force
With Project Eagle, the Marine Corps is taking decisive steps toward the future. By embracing autonomous systems, AI-driven operations, and cutting-edge sustainment techniques, the Corps is ensuring its aviation forces remain highly mobile, resilient, and lethal on the battlefields of tomorrow.
This Week in Aviation History
3 February 1995 – In the early hours of the morning, at precisely 12:22 a.m. EST, Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103) lifted off from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B on mission STS-63. This historic flight marked a major milestone: for the first time in NASA history, a woman was at the controls as a space shuttle pilot.
At the helm was Lt. Col. Eileen Marie Collins, USAF, making her first journey into space. She was joined by Commander James Wetherbee (USN), Mission Specialists Bernard Harris Jr., Colin Foale, Janice Voss, and Russian cosmonaut Col. Vladimir Titov. Their primary objective? A rendezvous with the Russian space station, Mir, setting the stage for future shuttle-Mir dockings. The crew also conducted scientific experiments and a spacewalk.
Discovery orbited Earth 129 times before touching down at Kennedy Space Shuttle Landing Facility on 11 February, capping off an 8-day, 6-hour mission.
Eileen Collins: Breaking Barriers in the Sky and Beyond
Born 19 November 1956 in Elmira, New York, Eileen Collins had a lifelong passion for aviation. After earning her wings at Vance Air Force Base in 1979, she flew C-141 Starlifters before becoming a T-38 instructor pilot. Later, she attended the prestigious Air Force Test Pilot School, where she flew the F-4 Phantom II among other aircraft.
Selected as a NASA astronaut in 1992, Collins made history multiple times:
🚀 1995 (STS-63) – First female space shuttle pilot.
🚀 1997 (STS-84) – Piloted Atlantis to Mir.
🚀 1999 (STS-93) – Became the first woman to command a space shuttle, leading Columbia.
🚀 2005 (STS-114) – Commanded Discovery on the first shuttle mission after the Columbia disaster.
By the time she retired from NASA in 2006, Col. Collins had logged over 38 days in space and flown more than 6,751 hours across 30 different aircraft. Her contributions earned her the Harmon Trophy, cementing her place in aviation history.
Her legacy? Opening the cockpit for future generations of women in space exploration.
In Case You Missed It
Along with the Navy, the Marines also operate the F-35C:
Photo Outlet
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Feel free to use these photos however you like, if you choose to tag me, I am @pilotphotog on all social platforms. Thanks!
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-Tog