perocity
12-29-2010, 12:11 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD-J1KksHUQ
In June, the Marine Corps released its Marine Operations Concept 2010, a document written by the staff of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command that explains how the USMC must provide the nation with two key capabilities: assuring littoral access and winning “small wars.”
In Marine aviation terms, assuring access and winning small wars hinges upon strike capability. As of the beginning of the year, the Marine Corps has gone “all-in” with regard to its near-term strike capacity. The Corps must have the F-35 and relatively soon. Without it, the service’s ability to carry out “lightning strikes” will degrade quickly.
In spite of the well-publicized delays and changes in leadership in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program (USMC Maj. Gen. David Heinz was removed from directorship of the JSF Joint Program Office in February, replaced by USN Vice Adm. David Venlet), the USMC has refused to push back the Initial Operating Capability (IOC) for the F-35B as the Navy and Air Force have done for the F-35C and F-35A. Twenty baseline-capable F-35Bs will have to be produced and ready to fly with the first USMC training squadron (VMFAT-501) at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., in 2010-2011. They’ll be followed by another 10 for the first IOC squadron (VMFA-332), which is to debut in 2012.“We have two years and nine months in order to populate these squadrons,” Marine Corps Deputy Commandant of Aviation Lt. Gen. George J. Trautman III said in an April 2010 interview. “We’re semi-confident we can track in that direction.”
Hopefully, such confidence is well founded. The future of Marine Corps fixed-wing aviation literally turns upon the timely arrival of the F-35B. The service’s decision not to buy fourth-generation strike/fighter aircraft like the USN’s Boeing Super Hornet in favor of going directly to the JSF means that its extant fleet of F/A-18A/C/D Hornets, AV-8B Harriers, and EA-6B Prowlers is considerably older.
Their remaining service life is limited and quickly being consumed. The Corps has already extended flight hour ceilings for these aircraft and any delay in F-35B production/deployment will exacerbate the situation. The Navy has predicted a “fighter gap” of approximately 177 aircraft based on JSF delays.
A May report from the Congressional Budget Office actually suggested cutting the Navy/Marine Corps F-35 buy from 680 to 587 aircraft in favor of further Super Hornet purchases, among other alternatives. USN/USMC leadership said it remains “committed” to the current total buy number. Such is the service’s faith in the Lightning II that when the Prowler retires around 2020, the F-35B will become the Marines’ only front-line manned strike/fighter/ECM aircraft.
More: http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/lightning-strikes/
In June, the Marine Corps released its Marine Operations Concept 2010, a document written by the staff of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command that explains how the USMC must provide the nation with two key capabilities: assuring littoral access and winning “small wars.”
In Marine aviation terms, assuring access and winning small wars hinges upon strike capability. As of the beginning of the year, the Marine Corps has gone “all-in” with regard to its near-term strike capacity. The Corps must have the F-35 and relatively soon. Without it, the service’s ability to carry out “lightning strikes” will degrade quickly.
In spite of the well-publicized delays and changes in leadership in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program (USMC Maj. Gen. David Heinz was removed from directorship of the JSF Joint Program Office in February, replaced by USN Vice Adm. David Venlet), the USMC has refused to push back the Initial Operating Capability (IOC) for the F-35B as the Navy and Air Force have done for the F-35C and F-35A. Twenty baseline-capable F-35Bs will have to be produced and ready to fly with the first USMC training squadron (VMFAT-501) at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., in 2010-2011. They’ll be followed by another 10 for the first IOC squadron (VMFA-332), which is to debut in 2012.“We have two years and nine months in order to populate these squadrons,” Marine Corps Deputy Commandant of Aviation Lt. Gen. George J. Trautman III said in an April 2010 interview. “We’re semi-confident we can track in that direction.”
Hopefully, such confidence is well founded. The future of Marine Corps fixed-wing aviation literally turns upon the timely arrival of the F-35B. The service’s decision not to buy fourth-generation strike/fighter aircraft like the USN’s Boeing Super Hornet in favor of going directly to the JSF means that its extant fleet of F/A-18A/C/D Hornets, AV-8B Harriers, and EA-6B Prowlers is considerably older.
Their remaining service life is limited and quickly being consumed. The Corps has already extended flight hour ceilings for these aircraft and any delay in F-35B production/deployment will exacerbate the situation. The Navy has predicted a “fighter gap” of approximately 177 aircraft based on JSF delays.
A May report from the Congressional Budget Office actually suggested cutting the Navy/Marine Corps F-35 buy from 680 to 587 aircraft in favor of further Super Hornet purchases, among other alternatives. USN/USMC leadership said it remains “committed” to the current total buy number. Such is the service’s faith in the Lightning II that when the Prowler retires around 2020, the F-35B will become the Marines’ only front-line manned strike/fighter/ECM aircraft.
More: http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/lightning-strikes/