Lt Gen John Davis, deputy commandant for aviation, unveiled the new Conops at a conference in London. That meeting was followed by reports that Marine F-35Bs could be filling deck spots on the carrier Queen Elizabeth while the UK builds up its own force, suggesting that the Marines are already working to get the U.K. onboard with its plans. Davis also addressed some of the detail concerns: although some M-Farps could be resupplied with weapons by vertical lift, either surface transport or KC-130Js would be needed to deliver fuel.Read the entire article here.
The M-Farp concept would also be stressed in any kind of hybrid war scenario where the adversary has insurgent forces or sympathizers in the area where the forward bases are located. That could make the targeting cycle much shorter or expose the F-35s to direct threat from manportable air defense systems - particularly on landing, any Stovl jet is a hot and non-maneuverable target. It would also complicate resupply by land. Whether the new Marine Conops will work better than the RAF's old Warlocs remains to be seen.
How short is the tribal knowledge getting in the Marine Corps? Have they already forgotten about Camp Leatherneck and the loss of a harrier squadron? Do they really believe that these M-Farps won't be as vulnerable or more to enemy attack...especially in hybrid or conventional warfare?
If history is known and if they plan on increasing security then we're looking at an infantry battalion being taken out of the fight to provide security for the wing.
Awesome.
We're quickly heading toward the point of where everything and everyone is being focused on supporting the F-35.
That is NOT the USMC that I know, want to be apart of, or needs to exist. Much more of this and I'll be calling for us to be disbanded.
