PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - V-22 Osprey Air Refuel F-35Bs for CVFs? + other stuff
Old 22nd Aug 2013, 12:28
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LowObservable
 
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So far, the tests are just to show that the drogue trails smoothly behind the V-22 (rather than thrashing around in the rotor wash like a landed eel) so I would not expect F-35B contacts soon. Jane's is calling an increase in the nominal radius from 450 to 600 nm (and those ranges are on very range-optimized profiles). Given V-22 payload and range that might be possible with one V-22 to two F-35s.

The advantage of this system would be that it would allow the LHD/A carrying 16 JSFs and four V-22 tankers (and lots of bored Marines playing video games) to operate at a similar standoff distance to the CV rather than going closer into the threat. On the downside you still don't have any AEW, which leaves you rather vulnerable to ASCM shots from the littoral, aircraft or fast attack craft like the 022 Houbei, and aside from the LHA-6/7 50000-ton mistakes, the amphibs are deficient in fuel and support volume for a JSF/V-22 wing.
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