Australian LPDs and fixed wing ops
Hello JSFfan; re your #1226 post.
There is heaps of imagery and text stuff referring to STOVL potential for the Australian Canberra class LPD and the F-35B gets mention in some DoD material.
The JSF is looking more like a dead duck each day and it is only the American politicians who are not yet coming to grips with the reality of a very flawed project that is likely to cause the US huge political embarrassment.
If Australia is going to be able to afford reasonable air combat capability, then it cannot realistically be the very costly unproven F-35A for the Air Force, let alone F-35B for the Navy.
There has been a project ongoing in Navy circles for a time considering the OV-10 for operation from the Canberra class flat tops. Methinks not a very good option, although Super Tucano would be a good alternative; if a naval version is developed, as mooted in some quarters. A simple arrestor system could be easily retro-fitted to these ships.
Whatever is embarked on these LPDs, the escort requirements are going to be very costly for the smallish ADF.