Marine Aviation Plan - 2018 - PDF

[spazsinbad]

Marine Aviation Plan - 2018
08 Jan 2018 USMC

"The Marine Aviation Plans for the year 2018. Contains the operational posture, operational plans, and future plans. Lots of nice photos and charts."

192 page PDF: https://www.filefactory.com/file/6jchc9 ... 202018.pdf (11.3Mb)

"F‐35B AND F‐35C LIGHTNING II PLAN ORGANIZATION
The F‐35B and F‐35C will replace F/A‐18, AV‐8B, and EA‐6B. The Marine Corps will procure a total of 420 F‐35s (353 F‐35Bs and 67 F‐35Cs) in the following squadron configurations:

1) 9 Squadrons x 16 F‐35B
2) 5 Squadrons x 10 F‐35B
3) 4 Squadrons x 10 F‐35C
4) 2 Squadrons x 10 F‐35B reserve
5) 2 Squadrons x 25 F‐35B Fleet Readiness Squadron (FRS)

The aircraft is currently tracking to reach its full program‐of‐record operational capability (Block 3F) in calendar year 2018.

The full transition from legacy to F‐35 will complete with the transition of the second reserve squadron in 2031.

With a mixture of 10‐ and 16‐plane F‐35B squadrons, the current transition plan allows MAGTF commanders the flexibility to deploy a 6‐plane MEU detachment all the way up to a full 16‐plane squadron. Our F‐35Cs will be able to deploy operationally with the Carrier Air Wing in support of Carrier Strike Groups in the early 2020s as well as to deploy in support of MAGTF commanders as a 10‐plane squadron.

In 2018 VMFA‐121 will support a MEU detachment early in the new year, and VMFA‐211 will support a separate MEU detachment in the summer.

Also in 2018, VMFA‐122 will execute its safe for flight as an F‐35B squadron at MCAS Yuma.

In 2019 the Marine Corps will start to transition its first F‐35C squadron. VMFA‐314, currently an F/A‐18 squadron located in Miramar, will be redesignated an F‐35C squadron and remain in Miramar. The squadron is expected to train at a pace which will put them at a T2 rating by the middle of FY 2021, and they will start deployment workups by the end of 2021.

VMFA‐225 is not far behind VMFA‐314, also transitioning from an F/A‐18 squadron, which will remain in Miramar, to F35‐B in in 2020 as well. VMFAT‐502 is currently planned to stand up in first quarter FY21 as the second USMC F‐35B FRS in order to meet the exponential increase in USMC F‐35B pilot training requirements.

In order to support transitions to F‐35C, the Marine Corps has delivered eight F‐35Cs to the joint Navy/Marine Corps FRSs located in Eglin AFB and NAS Lemoore. The USMC is currently contributing F‐35C instructor pilots and maintainers at both locations to support training requirements."

Source: http://aviationarchives.blogspot.com.au/

[blindpilot]

"F‐35B AND F‐35C LIGHTNING II PLAN ORGANIZATION
The F‐35B and F‐35C will replace F/A‐18, AV‐8B, and EA‐6B. The Marine Corps will procure a total of 420 F‐35s (353 F‐35Bs and 67 F‐35Cs) in the following squadron configurations:

Doh now I'm all confused again! What about those extra B's Congress gave us ....???

BP
(BP thinks we can give'm to the Aussies! )

[spazsinbad]

Yeah - I know - but as indicated earlier - I'll stick with the latest aviation plan numbers - reporters are DIPSTICKS!

[neptune]

....the "Bee" is growing (again); MTOW was 60klb. and now "I" think I'm reading it has increased to 61.5klb?? This will bear further investigation/ verification!


...thanks Guys, those numbers looked a little off, I hope we can get some revisions to the 2018 plan!

[spazsinbad]

USMC Aviation Plan 2018 - MAGTF DIGITAL INTEROPERABILITY

"EVERY PLATFORM A SENSOR, SHOOTER, ELECTRONIC WARFARE NODE AND SHARER"

"F‐35B AND F‐35C LIGHTNING II PLAN CAPABILITIES (F‐35B / F‐35C)
Aircraft Specifications
• Empty Weight: F‐35B = 15,000 pounds; [32,300 lb] F‐35C = 18,000 pounds [34,800 lb] [from latest FAST FACTS]
• Max Gross Weight: F‐35B = 61,500 pounds; [60,000 lb class] F‐35C = 70,400 pounds [70,000 lb class]
• Internal Fuel: F‐35B = 14,000 pounds; [13,500 lb] F‐35C = 20,000 pounds [19,750 lb] [from latest FAST FACTS]
• Speed (Cruise w/ Attack Payload): .94M / Top speed: 1.6M..."

Source: https://www.filefactory.com/file/6jchc9 ... 202018.pdf (11.6Mb) ALT DOWNLOAD: http://docdro.id/QnxnmMg

[mas]

Those empty weights do not look right.

[XanderCrews]

Happy New Year!

[splittingatoms]

Those empty weights do not look right.

That's what I was thinking...

[neptune]

deleted

[steve2267]

I am confused. I thought VMFA-121 The Green Knights were deploying on LHD-1 USS Wasp and VMFA-211 was deploying later in the year on USS Essex, LHD-2 if I'm not mistaken.

ETA: Other recent news stories had six F-35B's from VMFA-121 @ Iwakuni, Japan deploying on USS Wasp. Twelve might make more sense for USS Essex floating around the ME.

[neptune]

I am confused. I thought VMFA-121 The Green Knights were deploying on LHD-1 USS Wasp and VMFA-211 was deploying later in the year on USS Essex, LHD-2 if I'm not mistaken.

....correct!

[neptune]

http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Disp ... al-forces/

USS Wasp arrives in Japan to join forward deployed naval forces

By Amphibious Force 7th Fleet Public Affairs
January 13, 2018

SASEBO, Japan -

The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) arrived in Sasebo, Japan, Jan. 14, completing a 28,400-mile journey from Norfolk, Va. that began in late August. Wasp, which has undergone significant upgrades to be able to land and launch the U.S. Marine Corp’s F-35B Joint Strike Fighter, will replace USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) as the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship in 7th Fleet. The force structure change has been long-planned as part of a Department of Defense effort to position the most advanced and capable assets forward in support of partners and allies.

Wasp’s arrival to Sasebo comes after nearly two months of humanitarian relief efforts following two major hurricanes in the Caribbean and more than two months transiting across the Atlantic and into the Pacific. “The arrival of USS Wasp represents an increase in military capability and a commitment to our partners and allies for security and stability in the region,” said Capt. Colby Howard, Wasp commanding officer. “Paired with the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter, we remain ready to execute the full range of military operations from crisis response to disaster relief.” Wasp departed Norfolk Aug. 30 and was diverted a few days later to the Caribbean to assist the U.S. Virgin Islands and Dominica in the wake of Hurricane Irma. The amphibious assault ship then provided assistance to Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, a Category 5 storm regarded as the worst natural disaster in the history of the American commonwealth island. In support of relief efforts, Wasp aircraft flew 108 missions on the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico totaling 385 hours of flight time moving 1,129 total passengers along with 26,720 pounds of equipment and 1,718,200 pounds of various logistical support items, including 328,100 pounds of food and water. "It's an exciting time to be in the Navy, and an exciting time for Wasp and her crew, given the wide variety of missions we have the opportunity to support," said Wasp Command Master Chief Gregory Carlson. "Over the last 18 months, this crew has not only performed their daily duties in an exemplary manner, but grown as individuals and well-represented the U.S. as ambassadors as we have served across the globe. While I'm proud of what they have accomplished, I'm also very proud of who they've become as a crew."

Wasp and other amphibious ships assigned under Expeditionary Strike Group 7, the Navy’s only forward-deployed expeditionary strike group, directly partner with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit as the Pacific’s on-call crisis response force. The F-35B is scheduled to embark on Waspwhen the amphibious assault ship and MEU deploy in 2018 for regularly scheduled regional patrol. Bonhomme Richard has been forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan since April 2012 and will relocate to San Diego following a regularly scheduled patrol. Commissioned in July 1989, Wasp has served on numerous deployments throughout the world, including a 6-month deployment to the Middle East in 2016. Seventh Fleet, which celebrates its 75th year in 2018, spans more than 124 million square kilometers, stretching from the International Date Line to the India/Pakistan border and from the Kuril Islands in the North to the Antarctic in the South. Seventh Fleet's area of operation encompasses 36 maritime countries and 50 percent of the world's population with between 50 & 70?? U.S. ships and submarines, 140 aircraft and approximately 20,000 Sailors in the 7th Fleet.

[spazsinbad]

MAGTF USMC 14 Jan 2018 "Breaking down the MAGTF Barney style." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9x0PGB0I0Y

[spazsinbad]

[steve2267]

A good interview with USMC Gen. Coffman, commanding General of 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

Maj. Gen. David Coffman, USMC, deputy commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force and commanding General of 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, discusses lessons learned from the USS America's deployment, the F-35 Lightning II fighter, and US Navy and Marine Corps force planning for the Pacific theater during a Jan. 10, 2018, interview with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian at the Surface Navy Association's 2018 national symposium and trade show in northern Virginia. Our coverage is sponsored by Leonardo DRS.

Question @ 4:00: "What do you like about the ship (USS America), what do you not like about the ship?"
Answer @ 4:22: "I like that it's got LOTS of GAS..."

He talks about "an influence area of an amphibious assault ship like the America... that goes into the thousands of miles."