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Marine aviation is very small, and they are naval aviators, so Marine squadrons do carrier duty. But they are small and mobile, and want to be able to operate f
by BJBBB 10y ago
Marine aviation is very small, and they are naval aviators, so Marine squadrons do carrier duty. But they are small and mobile, and want to be able to operate from remove patches of dirt. Helicopters in general, and the F35B and V22 in particular are principle enablers of CAP. And Marines generally do not want Air Force over them as they tend to prefer Army and Naval aviator brand of CAP.
The Army is not allowed jets per the same post WWII regulations that separated the Army Air Corps to form the Air Force service branch.
- lhopki01 10y agoThe massively shorter range of VTOL aircraft completely negates any advantage of being stationed closer to the front that small patches of dirt give you.
- sbierwagen 10y agoNote that both the Harrier and the F-35B are generally STOVL, not VTOL. Dry weight of the B is 32,000lbs, and globalsecurity says the lift fan can only produce 39,700lbs of thrust. A single JDAM weighs 2,000lbs. Doesn't leave much room for fuel. V-22 is the same way.