On January 14, an informal ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the completion of its F-35 LIGHTNING II expansion project, which saw the facility’s JSF Modification Line acquire more space and add more aircraft bays to deliver an additional 337,000 hours of maintenance and repair work through Fiscal Year 2028.
FRCE is North Carolina's largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 4,000 civilian, military and contract workers. The depot provides service to the fleet while functioning as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers. It is the specialist facility in maintenance and repair for the USMC’s F-35B STOVL variant in particular, although it also works with the F-35A (conventional takeoff and landing) and F-35C (carrier) variants.
FRCE Commanding Officer Capt. Randy Berti cut the ribbon while flanked by George Wilson, F-35C assistant program manager for logistics at the F-35 Joint Program Office; Jeanie Holder, modifications and induction lead at the F-35 Joint Program Office; Ericka Bishop, Contracting Branch head for the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Facilities Engineering and Acquisitions Division; and Buddy Davis, FRCE Facilities and Infrastructure Management Department head.
This is the biggest milestone yet for the site, which stood up its F-35 capability back in 2013 and since then has inducted 158 F-35s, of which 145 are back in operational service and the others are currently being worked on. The 158th aircraft to be inducted, in particular, is the first ever to make use of the new bays and spaces just configured. It was only recently, in early December 2024, that the 150th F-35 induction was celebrated. 2024 was a year of both firsts and lasts as the F-35 continues to grow in numbers and capability with the USMC and the other services.
In particular, FRCE first declared the capability to carry out certified repairs and testing on an F-35 component in 2020. During 2024 the list of the components the Depot has declared capability on has grown to 76 and will continue to grow over time.
In 2023, FRCE personnel became the first within the Department of Defense to perform the successful assembly of a lift fan clutch for the F-35B Lightning II aircraft outside of the original manufacturer’s facility. It was a major achievement which will lead, later this year, to the opening of dedicated testing and processing facilities on the site for the F-35B vertical lift fan.
The F-35B is well on its way towards completely replacing the AV-8B HARRIER fleet of the USMC, and 2024 saw two great and historical “lasts”, delivering the last HARRIER engine back to the frontline squadrons and, on September 26, completing its final AV-8B Harrier maintenance event, delivering the aircraft back to Marine Attack Squadron 223 onboard Marine Air Station Cherry Point.
Depots like FRCE are fundamental for the Department of Defense as they reduce reliance on original manufacturers and introduce new repair and maintenance methods and solutions developed “in-house” which can at times lead to very significant efficiencies and savings.
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