F-35C Joint Strike Fighter Traps Aboard A Carrier For The First Time

[Nefarious]

Well if you think about it, Modern Air Wings are somewhat becoming similar to their World War 2 predecessors. 2-3 different aircraft.

[Serenity]

Yup. With all the turmoil around the "Common Support Aircraft" projects over the years, it seems pretty evident, at least to me, that nobody has created an a/c better suited to the COD tasks than the current plane being used.  The fleet of 35 will time out in 2028, and there are efforts underway to modernize them and extend even that date quite a bit (new avionics, engines, etc).  The V22 was thought to be a good alternative, but gives up about 20% in range, and has a much higher useful load. It would allow the fleet to deliver cargo to various ships point to point, and remove helos from the distribution equation, but at a cost in range and expense of the a/c.  Pros - V22 is pretty much as fast, a little less legs, but has way more flexibility along with the point-point ship supply issue, and more cargo capacity in terms of weight of load, vs cons of  a more complicated and expensive aircraft to maintain.  Who knows, maybe the V22 will end up being not a bad option, having a few on a CVN wouldn't hurt for SAR extra duties, or all manner of other stuff the V22 can do that a COD cannot.  Close call IMO.

Good article about it:

http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2013/July/Pages/NavytoConsiderNewWaystoShuttlePassengers,SuppliestoAircraftCarriers.aspx

I've read conflicting things about the V22s actual range and payload stats.  A lot of Marines have posted stuff online saying it really can only lift around 8000lb internally for around 200nm radius, NOT 20,000lbs like the company always says.  I don't know what the actual factual figures are for cargo for the V22, but so long as it was the same as the COD, it would make it at least something to consider IMO so far as a replacement.  

Interesting Navy Eval stuff - http://www.nps.edu/Academics/Institutes/Meyer/docs/V22%20Easterly%20presentation%20Oct%2014%202004.pdf

I personally don't have any knowledge/experience with the V-22. However, I spend some time with the COD guys at VRC-30, and this was the general take:

The V-22 would be a TERRIBLE COD. Not only would the carrier deck require re-work to handle the heat, but the V-22 is NOT pressurized, and quite often the C-2 WILL fly missions that require pressurization. Additionally, as you mentioned, the V-22 cannot carry the load that's advertised. They said something to the effect of about 50% of the weight of the current C-2. And they did mention serious range problems.

[KgB]

Carriers are good for countries without air defense , otherwise its too vulnerable. So why do we need stealth on carrier if they cant do crap about it in the first place?

[GScholz]

Carriers are good for force projection beyond a nation's connected landmass. The Americans are in a fairly unique position that they must have a large navy to get to anywhere "interesting". Unlike Europe or Russia or China who can literally just march to the Middle East or Africa if they have to (although Africa is a long trek for the Chinese...) Among other "interesting" countries, European NATO members share borders with Syria, Iraq and Iran. The Middle East and North Africa are within tactical striking range of European airbases. America is like an island on the other side of the world...

[KgB]

Carriers are good for force projection beyond a nation's connected landmass. The Americans are in a fairly unique position that they must have a large navy to get to anywhere "interesting". Unlike Europe or Russia or China who can literally just march to the Middle East or Africa if they have to (although Africa is a long trek for the Chinese...) Among other "interesting" countries, European NATO members share borders with Syria, Iraq and Iran. The Middle East and North Africa are within tactical striking range of European airbases. America is like an island on the other side of the world...

Like I said, third world countries should worry about carrier group but any modern army will sink it with ease.

[GScholz]

"With ease" is something that has yet to be proven... even tested.

[Serenity]

Like I said, third world countries should worry about carrier group but any modern army will sink it with ease.

This might just be the funniest thing I have ever read...

What's your level of knowledge of the Aegis systems on our cruisers? Ever seen the picket screen we put up in front of a CVN group? Wanna take a guess how far out we can spot incoming ordinance or aircraft and hit them with defensive weapons? Or even how effective an air wing would be at defending the ship and suppressing a modern force? In fact, our carrier groups are MORE well suited to fighting industrial nations than third world countries.

There is a reason we still use CVN groups to flex our muscles around China and Russia: A carrier battlegroup is a force to be reckoned with. To think anything less would be immensely foolish.

[XxDaSTaRxx]

It's beautiful.

I will raise you an F-14



How dare you call that helicopter-jet one night stand child "beautiful"

[Rich46yo]

Carriers are good for force projection beyond a nation's connected landmass. The Americans are in a fairly unique position that they must have a large navy to get to anywhere "interesting". Unlike Europe or Russia or China who can literally just march to the Middle East or Africa if they have to (although Africa is a long trek for the Chinese...) Among other "interesting" countries, European NATO members share borders with Syria, Iraq and Iran. The Middle East and North Africa are within tactical striking range of European airbases. America is like an island on the other side of the world...

Huh? I thought you were in an army of some type somewheres.

March into Africa?

[Serenity]

I will raise you an F-14

(Image removed from quote.)

How dare you call that helicopter-jet one night stand child "beautiful"

THAT is a GORGEOUS airplane!

[GScholz]

THAT is a GORGEOUS airplane!

Excactly! The F-35 is just beautiful (and in a techy, geeky way).

[Serenity]

Excactly! The F-35 is just beautiful (and in a techy, geeky way).

Meh... they had one at NAS Pensacola today. It looks zoomie and futuristic from the front, from the side it looks a little short and stout (not in a good way), and from the rear it's just hideous. The Tomcat was gorgeous, the Hornet is okay, (Better in two-seat super-hornet form) and the 35 is just ugly. I can't imagine it sliding too much farther downhill from here lol.

[GScholz]

Huh? I thought you were in an army of some type somewheres.

March into Africa?

Perhaps there's a communication problem here. I don't get your question? European armies have marched into Africa on countless times since the beginning of time. Some armies have marched as far as India and South-East Asia. Asian armies (the Mongols in particular) have marched into Europe. The Persians marched into Europe. Africans (Moors) held the Iberian peninsula (Spain, Portugal) for 200 years, and it took another 300 years for the European kingdoms to completely drive them out.

[KgB]

This might just be the funniest thing I have ever read...

What's your level of knowledge of the Aegis systems on our cruisers? Ever seen the picket screen we put up in front of a CVN group? Wanna take a guess how far out we can spot incoming ordinance or aircraft and hit them with defensive weapons? Or even how effective an air wing would be at defending the ship and suppressing a modern force? In fact, our carrier groups are MORE well suited to fighting industrial nations than third world countries.

There is a reason we still use CVN groups to flex our muscles around China and Russia: A carrier battlegroup is a force to be reckoned with. To think anything less would be immensely foolish.

How many aircraft it can carry? Regardless of number it will be less with every sortie, and I bet it will go down after the first anti ship missile attack. It may intercept 5 at once but there will be 20 going at mach 3, it wont even need to detonate.

[Serenity]

How many aircraft it can carry? Regardless of number it will be less with every sortie, and I bet it will go down after the first anti ship missile attack. It may intercept 5 at once but there will be 20 going at mach 3, it wont even need to detonate.

Again, any clue about an Aegis system? What is your background making these claims, lots of Holywood?

An aircraft carrier is NEVER alone. There is an entire multi-billion dollar state of the art battle system designed with the most intense modern threats in mind. You're talking out of your rear.