This is just a follow-on to Sol's post.
Looking at the their budget (PDF), the Marines are in-fact pretty frugal compared to the other services; until you start looking at aircraft.
Below is from the USN 2014 budget proposal relating to the F-35B.
(click image to make larger)
"Gross/Weapon System Unit Cost" is the one that matters. This is what it actually costs to put an F-35B into a flying squadron. Cost per flying hour of this aircraft and if they can change the F-35B's $27M jet engine on an amphib are also interesting to consider. I still worry about weight, bring-back and those happy looking high-90-percentile MC-rates in the KPPs.
(Poor Micklin. Will he be able to keep the "college boys" up in the air?)
$51B would buy a bunch of stuff that actually contributes toward the USMC's reason to exist.
All you pukes stand up when you hear this song.
4 comments:
They were lucky, they had aircraft that actually worked.
Gimme those days back!!!!!!
I think the Marine Corps is going to have to decide if it wants it's own private TACAIR or all the other stuff the Corps needs like tanks,IFV,etc...because US DoD and budget won't let them have both, it's going to be one or the other. It's true there is a third option of a completely hollowed out force...
As an aside, I keep hearing how great F35B is going to be and how it transforms all amphibs into small carriers. Ok, I will go along but there have been reports of how difficult it's going to be for the Navy to change engines of the F35 and to bring one on board a regular carrier. Even in separate modules, it's a difficult proposition. How is it going to work out on a small amphib when they have to swap a F35B F135 engine? And how do they get it on-board when they are on the go?
The Marines could probably get possession of twice the overall Tactical capability with a $51B budget, if it was re-done a little more strategically and prudently.
Unfortunately however, the miscalculated status quo stay the course plan is most likely, per default, going to soon cause a shrinkage in overall capabilities, while simultaneously sucking more resources from other critical Programs.
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