PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - F-35 Cancelled, then what ?
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Old 30th Jan 2013, 23:18
  #915 (permalink)  
LowObservable
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Far West Wessex
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Surprised to see a comment like that from Work. Maybe he's "demob-happy" - he's on his way out.

As LW notes, there are not 11 large-deck amphibs today, but nine - eight Wasps and the shagged-out Peleliu. I believe that if Navy shipbuilding plans hold to course (which is most unlikely) we get to 11 some time in the late 2020s.

These "aircraft carriers" can carry six F-35Bs before they have to start offloading helicopters (which are necessary to transport and support the Marines on board). The V-22 and JSF presumably strain the Wasps' support capacity - hence the mods to the LHA-6 Flight 0 ships, which have no well deck, and replace the ballast tanks (associated with the well deck) with more JP-5. However, as noted this has been abandoned for LHA-8 and subsequent ships.

Meanwhile, the quest for a scenario or an adversary that requires a small force of supersonic stealth fighters, but does not call for AEW, EW or tanker support, continues. (Clue: There isn't one.)
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