NAS Lemoore - Strike Fighter Wing Pacific
Commissioned in 1961, Naval Air Station Lemoore, which is situated in Kings County and Fresno County, California, is the newest and largest United States Navy Master Jet Base. Jason Grant and David Bray visited on behalf of Aviation Reporting to see the day to day operations on this very busy naval air facility, situated in the heart of California.
The primary mission of the base is to support the U.S. Pacific Fleet and to train, man and equip West Coast fighter squadrons so they may be ready to do the nation’s business anywhere in the world. Consisting of two off-set parallel runways 1400 meters apart, all aircraft maintenance and parking takes place between the two runways. During our visit, we witnessed how busy both runways are, with non stop flying throughout our time on base.
NAS Lemoore is not only the headquarters of Strike Fighter Wing Pacific, but it is also the new home of the Joint Strike Fighter Wing. The base hosts the entire West Coast fighter attack fleet of jets: the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II.
The F-35C is the first long range stealth strike fighter for the US Navy. The aircraft boast low observable stealth features thanks to state of the art manufacturing processes, and onboard sensor fusion giving the pilot unprecedented situational awareness. The F-35C can carry 20,000 lbs of fuel and has a range of over 1,200 nautical miles. The jet can reach speeds of mach 1.6, even with a full internal weapons load, and is able to carry more than 5,000 lbs of internal weapons. The jet is also capable of carrying an external weapons load with a combined weight (internal and external) of more than 18,000 lbs.
The F-35C has been designed and developed for exclusive use by the US Navy to be used with the existing aircraft carrier fleet fitted with catapult assisted take-off but assisted recovery (CATOBAR). The jet is a single engine multi role aircraft that offers the US Navy fleet a long range stealth strike, with improved lethality and survivability. The US Navy has plans to purchase 273 F-35C jets and they are expected to give the fighting edge over enemies until 2070.
The Joint Strike Fighter Wing on NAS Lemoore currently has three squadrons of F-35C jets:
VFA-147 nicknamed “Argonauts” achieved Initial Operating Capability on 28th February 2019 and was the first combat coded US Navy F-35C squadron. Its mission is to “win in combat through the projection of lethal and integrated 5th generation air power”;
VFA-125 nicknamed “Rough Raiders” is the F-35C Lightning II Fleet Replacement Squadron;
VFA-97 nicknamed “Warhawks” is a fleet squadron, assigned to Carrier Air Wing 2 and is the newest squadron to stand up with the F-35C. Its mission is to “fight and win prompt or sustained combat operations from sea”.
As the US Navy fleet of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets are relatively new, the transition to the F-35C is happening at a slower pace than other branches of the United States military. Alongside procurement of the F-35, aircraft and systems development is taking place as the jet reaches operational maturity. The current weapons integration trials and the hugely anticipated Block 4 capability upgrade are expected to mark a significant milestone in the F-35 program. The Block 4 upgrade is the most ambitious upgrade since the jets’ inception and will upgrade many of the capabilities of the jet. Although much of the information on Block 4 is classified, the upgrade to the electronic warfare suite in particular has been singled out by Air Combat Command boss Gen. Mark Kelly as the most important upgrade. The electronic warfare suite will better equip the jet for future fights where dominating the battle on the electromagnetic spectrum is an absolutely critical factor in determining the outcome on the battlefield. Block 4 will boost processing power which will be key to the new Northrop Grumman active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, designated AN/APG-85 which will replace the current AN/APG-81 AESA radar which is fitted to all variants. The upgrade will also improve the jets’ Distributed Aperture System and Electro-Optical Targeting System. No less than 75 major upgrades are expected with the introduction of Block 4 in the F-35. With the latest Block 4 capability being retrofitted to F-35 jets in service from lot 10, the newest deliveries of the F-35C are expected to be delivered with Block 4 already installed.
Alongside the F-35C, the F/A-18E (single seat) and F/A-18F (twin seat) Super Hornets are still very much the backbone of naval air power. The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a multi-role attack and fighter twin engine jet which entered U.S. Navy fleet service in 1999. The Super Hornet is a larger version of the F/A-18 Hornet, and is a major upgrade on the battle proven jet which was still in service with the fleet when the Super Hornet entered service. The jet is designed to meet current navy fighter escort and interdiction missions, to maintain F/A-18 fleet air defence and close air support roles, as well as carry out missions including forward air controller and aerial tanking. Super Hornet upgrades over the last 20 years have ensured the jet remains a modern, formidable threat, replacing the original F/A-18 Hornet as it came to the end of its service life. With the latest Block III upgrade, the Super Hornet will continue to be the backbone of US naval airpower for many years to come. During our time at the end of the runway, we glimpsed a jet that used to be at the forefront of US naval air power.
During our time at the end of the runway, an older F/A-18B Hornet, the type that used to be in front-line service with the US Navy, did a “touch and go” as it transited north to the upcoming airshow at Travis AFB in northern California. Although a nostalgic moment, the aircraft now in service with NASA reminded us just how much larger the current Super Hornet is compared to the old legacy Hornet.
Each Super Hornet is assigned to a squadron and squadron insignia can be seen on the tail of each jet, helping identify each jet to the squadron it belongs to. The squadron commander’s jet or CAG jet will usually be marked in a high visibility marking around the tail and spine of the jet, on the day we visited, several CAG jets were seen flying and many more were visible parked with their squadron jets.
On NAS Lemoore, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets are assigned to four carrier air wings (CVW) and come under the command of Strike Fighter Wing Pacific:
CVW-2
VFA-2 nicknamed “Bounty Hunters” operate the F/A-18F
VFA-113 nicknamed “Stingers” operate the F/A-18E
VFA-192 nicknamed “Golden Dragons” operate the F/A-18E
CVW-9
VFA-14 nicknamed “Tophatters” operate the F/A-18E
VFA-41 nicknamed “Black Aces” operate the F/A-18F
VFA-151 nicknamed “Vigilantes” operate the F/A-18E
CVW-11
VFA-25 nicknamed “Fist of the Fleet” operate the F/A-18E
VFA-146 nicknamed “Blue Diamonds” operate the F/A-18E
VFA-154 nicknamed “Black Knights” operate the F/A-18F
CVW-17
VFA-22 nicknamed “Fighting Redcocks” operate the F/A-18F
VFA-94 nicknamed “Mighty Shrikes” operate the F/A-18F
VFA-137 nicknamed “Kestrels” operate the F/A-18E
VFA-122 nicknamed “Flying Eagles” is the F/A-18E/F fleet replacement squadron and is the largest operator of Super Hornets on NAS Lemoore. Operating more than 80 aircraft, VFA-122 is a formidable squadron with a mission “to provide quality replacement aircrew and maintainers for the fleet”. VFA-122 also operate three T-34C turbo prop aircraft. The T-34C named the Turbo Mentor was originally used for basic flight training future naval aviators, however, this role has now passed to the newer T-6B. The T-34C Turbo Mentors with VFA-122 are flown by instructors who assess the bombing ranges before and during practice bombing runs, the instructors use the T-34C as a visual reminder by flying at the minimum permitted altitude during dive-bombing training.
In February 2023, Boeing announced plans to deliver its final F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to the US Navy late in 2025 and conclude production of the legacy fighter line. However, last month, the U.S. Navy awarded The Boeing Company a new contract for the purchase of an additional 17 F/A-18 Super Hornets which will keep the jet in production until early 2027. Boeing will also continue supporting modernisation of the Navy’s existing F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler fleet ,providing upgrades to combat capability until the 2040s.
Jason Grant and David Bray on behalf of Aviation Reporting would like to thank Sarah Thrasher from the Public Affairs Office for her help with arranging the visit and for her hospitality and direction on the day of the visit. We would also like to extend our thanks to the live-side team for their help and patience, making for a well thought out, informative and entertaining day on base.