F-35C :
Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore will hold a ribbon cutting for Hangar 6 – the second of two newly constructed hangars at the base designed to house the advanced F-35C squadrons currently based at NAS Lemoore, as well as additional squadrons that will be relocating from various military installations worldwide.
That includes an additional squadron coming from Japan that will be based in Lemoore later this summer, spokesperson Sarah Thrasher says.The base is already home to 16 Navy squadrons and will grow some more.
Captain Barrett “Farva” Smith, Commander of the Joint Strike Fighter Wing, emphasized the importance of Hangar 6 by stating, “The addition to the existing Hangar 6 will double the Navy’s F-35C Fleet capacity at NAS Lemoore, supporting the future growth of Joint Strike Fighter Wing and the Navy’s ability in providing additional 5th generation aircraft and capabilities to the nation’s deployable Carrier Air Wings.”
The first squadron to occupy Hangar 6 will be the VFA-115 Eagles, an acclaimed F/A-18E Super Hornet strike fighter squadron currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The VFA-115 Eagles are set to begin their transition to the F-35C jets in late summer 2024, marking a significant milestone in their illustrious history and further strengthening mission readiness at NAS Lemoore.
Harper Construction was awarded the contract to build Hangar Six in August of 2021 for $101,741,289. The hangar was completed on schedule and budget.
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the newest mod of Hangar Six is set for 23 July at 0900
The architectural design of Hangar 6 thoughtfully blends with the surrounding airfield infrastructure while embodying the sophistication and technological advancements of the F-35C program. This state-of-the-art facility ensures that NAS Lemoore remains at the forefront of naval aviation, providing a world-class environment for U.S. service members and the installation’s mission.
Hangar 6 substantially enhances NAS Lemoore’s current aircraft capacity as existing squadrons transition to the advanced F-35C airframe and new squadrons arrive from other locations. The facility supports tenant readiness goals with a greater number of modules per squadron than previous hangars, demonstrating the Navy’s longstanding commitment to providing top-tier facilities that ensure operational success.
The new generation of jets first arrived at NAS Lemoore in 2017. Considered a multi-role joint strike fighter, the capabilities the F-35C provide go beyond the scope that was previously offered by the Navy’s legacy F/A-18 Hornet and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet platforms, say its designers.
“The fifth-generation capability of the F-35 stands apart from every other airplane in the world,” said Jeff Babione, executive vice president and general manager of the F-35 Lightning II program for Lockheed Martin. “The F-35 is able to penetrate previously inaccessible anti-access airspace, which gives pilots increased lethality, precision, and survivability.”