U.S. Marines Expand Sea-Based Combat Reach With F-35B Fighters and CH-53K Heavy-Lift Helicopters.

The U.S. Marine Corps’ 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit is preparing to deploy with the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, bringing F-35B fighters, CH-53K heavy-lift helicopters, Amphibious Combat Vehicles, and Organic Precision Fires- light loitering munitions into the same force package. The deployment will mark the first time the 26th MEU operates the F-35B, CH-53K and ACV together on deployment as the unit enters the integrated phase of its pre-deployment training.

The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit is preparing for an upcoming deployment with the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group using a force package that combines aviation, amphibious mobility and precision fires. For the first time in the unit’s history, the deployment will include the F-35B Lightning II, CH-53K King Stallion, and Amphibious Combat Vehicle, alongside the Organic Precision Fires-Light loitering munition capability. The deployment has not yet begun, with the MEU now moving into integrated pre-deployment training.

Related News: U.S. Marines Expand Amphibious Combat Vehicle Role Beyond Ship-to-Shore Operations

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II fighters assigned to VMFA-542 conduct carrier qualifications aboard USS Kearsarge off North Carolina during the 26th MEU’s Type Commanders Amphibious Training on June 11, 2026. (Picture source: US DoD)

The 26th MEU completed its composite phase on September 28 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Its command element is now joined by Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 8th Marines as the ground combat element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 Reinforced as the aviation combat element, and Combat Logistics Battalion 22 for logistics support. Together, these four components form a Marine Air-Ground Task Force combining command and control, aviation, ground combat, and sustainment functions for operations from the sea.

According to a statement published on October 6, 2026, by the U.S. Marine Corps’ 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, this configuration will now be integrated with Amphibious Squadron 4, or PHIBRON 4, before deployment. The MEU, whose call sign is Proteus, is expected to operate aboard USS Kearsarge, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, USS Arlington, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, and USS Tortuga, a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship. The exact deployment schedule and final operating area have not yet been disclosed.

The addition of the F-35B changes the aviation component available to the amphibious force. Aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542 have already operated from USS Kearsarge during qualification activities off North Carolina. With its short takeoff and vertical landing capability, the F-35B can operate from an amphibious assault ship without requiring a conventional aircraft carrier. It provides strike, surveillance and close air support options, while its sensors and data-sharing capabilities can also contribute to situational awareness for a naval force operating in a contested environment.

Heavy-lift support will be provided by the CH-53K King Stallion. Aircraft from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 have already operated from USS Arlington during preparations for the deployment. The CH-53K is designed to carry a 27,000-pound external load, around 12.2 metric tons, over a mission radius of 110 nautical miles in demanding high-altitude and hot-weather conditions. Its maximum external lift capacity reaches 36,000 pounds. This allows the MEU to move heavy equipment, supplies and personnel between ships and inland positions without relying only on surface landing craft.

The Amphibious Combat Vehicle adds protected mobility between sea and land. ACVs from the 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion have already taken part in Kearsarge-related training. The eight-wheeled armored vehicle is gradually replacing the older tracked Assault Amphibious Vehicle. Its maximum water speed is around six knots in favorable conditions, with actual performance affected by sea state, currents, wind and vehicle load. These factors directly influence launch distances and the way an amphibious force can organize movement toward the shore.

Battalion Landing Team 1/8 will also field Organic Precision Fires-Light, giving infantry formations a portable capability that combines reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition and precision strike. The battalion has demonstrated this approach at Camp Lejeune with the Bolt-M loitering munition. The system is intended to give ground units more direct access to precision fires, reducing their reliance in some scenarios on mortars, artillery or aviation to engage a detected target quickly.

The next phase will test these capabilities through increasingly complex training events with PHIBRON 4. The Expeditionary Operations Training Group and Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic will support the training and evaluation process. The combination of the F-35B, CH-53K, ACV and loitering munitions gives the MEU more options to disperse forces, extend reconnaissance and strike coverage, and move personnel and equipment between sea and land. The Kearsarge ARG and 26th MEU are intended to conduct amphibious operations, crisis response, maritime interdiction and contingency response missions.

The deployment also supports the Marine Corps’ objective of restoring a 3.0 ARG/MEU presence, with one MEU available from the U.S. East Coast, one from the West Coast, and the 31st MEU operating from Okinawa. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith has identified this posture as a central objective for maintaining a more regular amphibious presence. In a security environment shaped by the spread of drones, precision weapons and long-range anti-ship systems, the U.S. ability to keep several expeditionary naval forces available at the same time affects the credibility of its commitments. The 26th MEU deployment will also provide a practical test of how these newer systems can operate together within an amphibious force at sea.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests include security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.

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