F-35Bs showcase their STOVL capabilities that can be useful for remote airfield ops.
Taken on May 6, 2015 the following footage features two F-35Bs from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, based out at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, practicing short take off and vertical landings as part of required flying field carrier landing practices (FCLP) at the station’s auxiliary landing field.
Although the F-35B has been developed to meet the requirement of the nations that operate ski-jump ramp-equipped aircraft carriers, it could also attract the interest of those air forces that need to disperse their aircraft to remote locations in order to safeguard their own efficiency after the first day of war. In fact, its STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) capabilities enable the F-35B to operate from quickly-prepared landing strips close to the front and away from the fixed airfields that would rapidly come under attack during wartime.
This is the reason why Israel would be ready to buy the F-35B as well.
Needless to say, operating from a remote field is something more than taking off and landing from a simulated U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship…
Since the B’s are “combat capable” (not) now, then why aren’t these magical aircraft working from remote locations now? And how are these big heavy things going to be resupplied and maintained? These concepts need to be tested, and they will be starting in May 2018 maybe. Meanwhile, all “holy grail” talk is just that whether the Chinese and Russians are totally scared or not.
Perhaps because there are only 10 F-35Bs operational with VMFA-121 and they have better things to do with their few operations aircraft. Things like training pilots, qualifying maintenance personnel, working on tactical employment techniques for the aircraft, military exercises, etc. Ten aircraft don’t go far Big Don but you know that so why post nonsense about sending these “magical aircraft” off so they can work from remote locations somewhere in the world?
Perhaps if they had 50 or 100 aircraft with skilled pilots and maintainers but now? With so few aircraft? Not a good idea. They have more important things to do – things like readying the Fleet to integrate hundreds of F-35s into Navy/Marine Corp warfighting operations. Perhaps had you had worked in a combat specialty you’d understand these things. But purchasing, or photography, or pushing papers from Pt. “A” to Pt. “B” does not prepare one to understand these things. Thankfully we have experienced warfighters that do!
Heck no, they won’t risk it, they’re still in Yuma, not in action as is every other jet fighter. It’s all hype.