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Old 5th Dec 2014, 15:32
  #29 (permalink)  
sandiego89
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: virginia, USA
Age: 56
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Some background as to why the Marines are looking at the QEs...

Marines Shift F-35 Deployment Plans | Ares
Thanks for posting, Interesting. After reading I fail to see how this new M-FARP differs much from existing US marine corps concept of operations.

Seems the "new" CONOP is to fly the B's off the LHA/LHD to a forward operating base and shift every couple of days to keep the enemy guessing. This allows the LHA/LHD to stay further away out of harms way.
The USMC Harrier was always touted that they would be able to operate from farp's with just a bit of gas, weapons and a few wrenches (much like the early RAF concept). Always a big selling point, but in reality used infrequently in actual USMC operations. Outside of exercies, USMC Harriers usually operated ashore at well established bases with plenty of support.

Seems like this seems more like a re-branding, than a radical new FARP. With the LHA/LHD further away, and the need to move every 24-48 hours, this could be ploy to garner support for more MV-22's and King Stallions- the logistics of moving a major M-FARP every day would be massive.
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