U.S. Navy Debates STOVL JSF Futu

I wonder if Navy's expeditionary (land-based) squadrons would use
F-35C, or also be equipped with F-35B? It seems there is more inter-
service rivalry in this argument than actual reasoning.

However, I guess USAF F-117A pilots in Desert Storm would not tell
that internally-carried 2,000-pound BLU-109 or GBU had been obsolete
for them, especially in the first days of the war. Then, in such
situations, again Marine guys in their STOVL F-35Bs would have to rely
on their Navy F-35C or F/A-18E/F/EA-18G counterparts as far as deep
interdiction and SEAD are concerned.

Best regards,
Jacek

You may see that you come to way too many variables to cover when you
are dealing with all possible scenarios. What war are you planning to
fight. In Iraq and Afghanistan right now old retired A-4's, A-6's, and
F-4's configured with advanced targeting pods could do just as good as
anything else including the JSF - but the "why" is heavily dependent
upon the fact that there are not sufficient threats (yet) showing up
that would hurt them or any other TACAIR asset that flies and operates
on mission above 5000 feet. Move over into Iran and with the SA-20 and
SA-15's things would change.


wrote in message
ups.com...
I wonder if Navy's expeditionary (land-based) squadrons would use
F-35C, or also be equipped with F-35B? It seems there is more inter-
service rivalry in this argument than actual reasoning.

However, I guess USAF F-117A pilots in Desert Storm would not tell
that internally-carried 2,000-pound BLU-109 or GBU had been obsolete
for them, especially in the first days of the war. Then, in such
situations, again Marine guys in their STOVL F-35Bs would have to rely
on their Navy F-35C or F/A-18E/F/EA-18G counterparts as far as deep
interdiction and SEAD are concerned.

Best regards,
Jacek

In article , Flashnews
writes
You may see that you come to way too many variables to cover when you
are dealing with all possible scenarios. What war are you planning to
fight. In Iraq and Afghanistan right now old retired A-4's, A-6's, and
F-4's configured with advanced targeting pods could do just as good as
anything else including the JSF - but the "why" is heavily dependent
upon the fact that there are not sufficient threats (yet) showing up
that would hurt them or any other TACAIR asset that flies and operates
on mission above 5000 feet. Move over into Iran and with the SA-20 and
SA-15's things would change.

Back in the original invasion in 2003, there were reports of AV-8Bs
operating out of soccer stadiums. STOVL gives you a complete extra
dimension to your operations, proven time and time again.

--
John

wrote:
I wonder if Navy's expeditionary (land-based) squadrons would use
F-35C, or also be equipped with F-35B? It seems there is more inter-
service rivalry in this argument than actual reasoning.

However, I guess USAF F-117A pilots in Desert Storm would not tell
that internally-carried 2,000-pound BLU-109 or GBU had been obsolete
for them, especially in the first days of the war. Then, in such
situations, again Marine guys in their STOVL F-35Bs would have to rely
on their Navy F-35C or F/A-18E/F/EA-18G counterparts as far as deep
interdiction and SEAD are concerned.

The Super Hornet carries exactly as many 2,000 bombs internally as the
F-35B, zero. So it offers no advantage in this area.

Easy prediction: More F-35B delays and the Marines are forced to equip a
few carrier based squadrons with Super Hornets on a temporary basis that
then extends out over a decade.

-HJC

On 4 Maj, 06:33, Henry J Cobb wrote:
The Super Hornet carries exactly as many 2,000 bombs internally as the
F-35B, zero. So it offers no advantage in this area.

I rather meant that a single guided 2,000 lb bomb in the internal bomb
bay in a dense SAM/AAA environment could be very important. Otherwise,
if something to be destroyed is an aircraft shelter or hardened
command post you can send there neither F-35B nor F/A-18E/F, but only
F-35C or at least EW/strike-configured EA-18G.

Easy prediction: More F-35B delays and the Marines are forced to equip a
few carrier based squadrons with Super Hornets on a temporary basis that
then extends out over a decade.

-HJC

The last schedules I heard of we
- 40 carrier-based Navy squadrons, including 22 F/A-18E/F and 18 F-35,
- 360 F-35C for the Navy and 320 F-35B for the Marines.

So, if the Navy really fielded so many squadrons with CVN-JSF, again
more Marine squadrons could return to UDP. I am not sure about the
possibility of Navy-to-Marine F/A-18C/D transfers, however...

Maybe somebody here has any more ideas?

Best regards,
Jacek