Geez you blokes must have had a heart attack when looking at the AUKUS submarine program if you aren’t aware of defence life-cycle and procurement costing?
Some big-balls missions for the possible upcoming Battle for the Pacific! Hats off to the Australian and USMC crews of the Hercs and HIMARS!
The crew then drives it toward the opposite end of the runway for a rocket salvo at predetermined targets as the aircraft taxis for take-off.
The HIMARS and the aircraft then meet at the “downwind end of the airstrip for loading and take-off into the wind,” in a less-than-10-minute operation.
The US Marines Corps first employed the “fire raid” maneuver in 2010.
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/...himars-c-130j/