What is up with the F-35? Part II

[looking4NSFS]

The equation China must contend with in the South China Sea for air capable ships keeps expanding.
Japan with the JS Izumo and Kaga, clearly being prepared for F35B use.
Australia with HMAS Canberra and Adelaide, air capable but the debate on F35B continues.
Singapore buying F35Bs, though the RSN has no large air capable ships.
Now the ROK building a dedicated F-35B air capable ship.

The sentence at the end of the article that references Marine Attack Helicopters is interesting:
"The LPX-II vessel will also deploy future Marine Attack Helicopters of the ROK Marine Corps, for which there is an upcoming competition between local company KAI (with the Surion MAH), Bell Helicopters with the AH-1Z and Boeing with the AH-64 Apache."

The Version 6 AH-64Es will have expanded over water capabilities, but that is not the same as the changes needed to routinely operate in a Maritime environment. Though the requirement for extended "at sea" use by South Korea may be limited enough that the requirement for a navalised AH 64 isn't necessary.

[looking4NSFS]

And...................

Right up front: The South Korean Ministry of National Defense (MND) has decided in August to double its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets. A total of forty additional “Joint Strike Fighters” will be procured, including 20 F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant for its light aircraft carrier project known as LPX-II.

https://news.usni.org/2020/09/07/sou...lpx-ii-carrier


PS: the BOLD button works like a charm!

[jlvfr]

Somewhere, the ghost of the Sea Harrier watches all these new light carriers and nods in approval...

[surfgun]

An article about USMC B’s serving in the UK.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...-there-to-stay

[JA Boomer]

Cool!

[JRT]

Mitchell Institute - The Latest on F-35

(as of 8 months ago)

http:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPvKWp7tSqY.

[surfgun]

The Turks may end up on the other end of the F-35...
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...request-report

[JRT]

The Turks may end up on the other end of the F-35...
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...request-report

Yes, and...
https://www.defensenews.com/global/e...russian-orbit/

[TopHatter]

US Marine Corps F-35s flew over 5,000 miles for a deployment aboard UK aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth

Ten fifth-generation fighter jets assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, a unit known as the "Wake Island Avengers," flew from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona to RAF Lakenheath in the UK for final training before next month's deployment.

For HMS Queen Elizabeth's maiden deployment, the first-in-class ship will lead the large, multinational Carrier Strike Group 21. The CSG will sail over 26,000 nautical miles and visit 40 countries during the deployment, according to the Royal Navy.

VMFA-211 will integrate with Britain's 617 squadron, known as the "Dambusters."

Although the B variant F-35s used by the Marine Corps is built for short takeoff and vertical landings aboard big-deck amphibious assault ships, they have also proven capable of operating off the British Queen Elizabeth-class carriers.

US Marine Corps F-35 pilots have trained alongside their British counterparts aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth, but this will be the first full operational deployment of a US F-35B squadron aboard the British carrier, according to the US Marine Corps.

Last September, VMFA-211 trained alongside the Dambusters at Royal Air Force Marham, where the two squadrons worked together to develop the essential mission skills necessary to function as a combined force for the upcoming deployment.

The US Marine Corps first announced plans to deploy F-35Bs aboard the Queen Elizabeth for a 2021 deployment in 2019.


In addition to the 65,000 metric ton British carrier, the CSG with which the US Marines will be operating will include the British destroyers HMS Diamond and Defender, frigates HMS Richmond and Kent, support ships Fort Victoria and Tidespring, and a submarine.

A Dutch frigate and American destroyer will also be a part of the group.

The CSG, which will also include more than 30 aircraft, will be the largest fleet of Royal Navy ships to deploy abroad since the Falklands War.

The deployment is expected to take the group into the Indo-Pacific region, likely through contested waterways like the South China Sea, where China routinely bristles at US aircraft carrier operations. The plan is for the strike group to visit Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and India, among other nations.

UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Monday that "when our Carrier Strike Group sets sail next month, it will be flying the flag for Global Britain."

He said the CSG will be "projecting our influence, signaling our power, engaging with our friends and reaffirming our commitment to addressing the security challenges of today and tomorrow."

'"The UK," he said, "is not stepping back but sailing forth to play an active role in shaping the international system of the 21st century."
________

That's pretty damn impressive...

[Albany Rifles]

I wonder if the Wake Island Avengers are going to be able to avail themselves of the bar when aboard?!

[Officer of Engineers]

I wonder if the Wake Island Avengers are going to be able to avail themselves of the bar when aboard?!

Room temperature beer?

[Albany Rifles]

Room temperature beer?

Beats the temperature of the beer aboard US Navy vessels.

[tbm3fan]

[SIZE=18px]
In addition to the 65,000 metric ton British carrier, the CSG with which the US Marines will be operating will include the British destroyers HMS Diamond and Defender, frigates HMS Richmond and Kent, support ships Fort Victoria and Tidespring, and a submarine.

A Dutch frigate and American destroyer will also be a part of the group.

The CSG, which will also include more than 30 aircraft, will be the largest fleet of Royal Navy ships to deploy abroad since the Falklands War.

The deployment is expected to take the group into the Indo-Pacific region, likely through contested waterways like the South China Sea, where China routinely bristles at US aircraft carrier operations. The plan is for the strike group to visit Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and India, among other nations.

UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Monday that "when our Carrier Strike Group sets sail next month, it will be flying the flag for Global Britain."

He said the CSG will be "projecting our influence, signaling our power, engaging with our friends and reaffirming our commitment to addressing the security challenges of today and tomorrow."

'"The UK," he said, "is not stepping back but sailing forth to play an active role in shaping the international system of the 21st century."
________

That's pretty damn impressive...

Man, are the Chinese going to have a hissy fit about this one. Now the British. Well, tough cookies...

[Officer of Engineers]

Man, are the Chinese going to have a hissy fit about this one. Now the British. Well, tough cookies...

Oh, it gets better. Canada has been doing FONOPS also. Two years ago, Chinese fighters buzzed two Canadian Frigates. The Chinese actually complained that the Canadians had the gall to turn on their AD radars and practised AD drills.

[Albany Rifles]

Oh, it gets better. Canada has been doing FONOPS also. Two years ago, Chinese fighters buzzed two Canadian Frigates. The Chinese actually complained that the Canadians had the gall to turn on their AD radars and practised AD drills.

Play stupid games....