I don't think F-35B are that desirable as a sea based fighter platform. Not for Australia. They are cool, but look past that..
Without blk IV they can't fire most munitions, like LRASM, Spear3etc. They are big, thirsty, expensive, heavy, platforms. Compromised a bit in all areas. The LHD are a bit small to operate them, they would only ever be a very light capability, and manned fighters have other costs associated with operations. Blast from the jet is also, just problematic for the ship. It just creates a highly expensive, highly resource intensive entity, with essentially only air defence capabilities, and essentially no strike capabilities. Even with blk IV, no JSM internal carry. Big old stealthy platform on sea spray, big and complex and expensive.. Really F-35B would really be about transporting them to expeditionary fields and them mostly operating from there, not every op being on the LHD flight deck.
MQ28, would be a much more realistic platform for LHD operations. Particularly with a few modifications to the LHD and MQ28, foldable wings, hook, under, carriage, wires on the LHD. So much range they are more like lilly pads, with many hours of flight time. No damaging jet blast. More like harrier operating needs. Much cheaper to acquire and operate, if an accident happens, you just go fish the platform out, no one is injured. If a land based MQ28 sees something an armed MQ28 could be sent out from the platform to intercept it.
MQ28 armed up with SDB, Spear3 or even JSM is very capable. We would be able to generate significant surveillance, CAP and strike capability at very long ranges. With operating costs mere fraction of even helo ops. You could afford to have one in the air for several hours, armed ready to go, or just recon.. No problems, and sustain ops 24/7 while doing it. Much more useful for the fleet, you would have organic air based radar, ISR, FLIR, tracking and identifying everything, absolutely everything within that grid reference. It wouldn't tie up man fighters, the RAAF could probably run ops from land based comfort if they wanted. But could easily be done from the LHD C&C centre with coffee and cake on standby.
Anything heavier comes in, scramble land based fighters and P8/E7.. You have your escorts armed with NSM, ESSM, TLAM.. etc.. Find anything interesting scramble MH60R to hit or dip or observe or rescue.
TBH while manned platforms are cool. A LHD with 6 MQ28 on deck probably has the same level of coolness.
I wonder if an aircraft like a OV-10 Bronco could come back into fashion. As it would be the perfect platform for Forward air control, could do carrier delivery (up to 1500kg), deploy troops, medi evac, light attack, sonarbouy deployment, torpedos, .. But controlling MQ28, could be its special deal. It could also carry and launch fairly large drones at significant distances via its rear door.
You can still buy them, there are a couple for sale, full digital cockpits.
www.ov10squadron.com
www.twz.com
There was a company looking at modern versions.
www.icarus-aerospace.com
IMO this is more viable than operating MV22 for the ADF. Short field performance would be great, PNG, islands etc. Resupply by pallet drop or landing. Medi-evac is I think particularly useful. You would be able to fly much faster than a helo (at nearly 500kmph) at nearly 2000km..
It probably wouldn't be based on a LHD, but fly ops on to and off the platform. It doesn't need wires or traps to operate.
Without blk IV they can't fire most munitions, like LRASM, Spear3etc. They are big, thirsty, expensive, heavy, platforms. Compromised a bit in all areas. The LHD are a bit small to operate them, they would only ever be a very light capability, and manned fighters have other costs associated with operations. Blast from the jet is also, just problematic for the ship. It just creates a highly expensive, highly resource intensive entity, with essentially only air defence capabilities, and essentially no strike capabilities. Even with blk IV, no JSM internal carry. Big old stealthy platform on sea spray, big and complex and expensive.. Really F-35B would really be about transporting them to expeditionary fields and them mostly operating from there, not every op being on the LHD flight deck.
MQ28, would be a much more realistic platform for LHD operations. Particularly with a few modifications to the LHD and MQ28, foldable wings, hook, under, carriage, wires on the LHD. So much range they are more like lilly pads, with many hours of flight time. No damaging jet blast. More like harrier operating needs. Much cheaper to acquire and operate, if an accident happens, you just go fish the platform out, no one is injured. If a land based MQ28 sees something an armed MQ28 could be sent out from the platform to intercept it.
MQ28 armed up with SDB, Spear3 or even JSM is very capable. We would be able to generate significant surveillance, CAP and strike capability at very long ranges. With operating costs mere fraction of even helo ops. You could afford to have one in the air for several hours, armed ready to go, or just recon.. No problems, and sustain ops 24/7 while doing it. Much more useful for the fleet, you would have organic air based radar, ISR, FLIR, tracking and identifying everything, absolutely everything within that grid reference. It wouldn't tie up man fighters, the RAAF could probably run ops from land based comfort if they wanted. But could easily be done from the LHD C&C centre with coffee and cake on standby.
Anything heavier comes in, scramble land based fighters and P8/E7.. You have your escorts armed with NSM, ESSM, TLAM.. etc.. Find anything interesting scramble MH60R to hit or dip or observe or rescue.
TBH while manned platforms are cool. A LHD with 6 MQ28 on deck probably has the same level of coolness.
I wonder if an aircraft like a OV-10 Bronco could come back into fashion. As it would be the perfect platform for Forward air control, could do carrier delivery (up to 1500kg), deploy troops, medi evac, light attack, sonarbouy deployment, torpedos, .. But controlling MQ28, could be its special deal. It could also carry and launch fairly large drones at significant distances via its rear door.
You can still buy them, there are a couple for sale, full digital cockpits.
OV-10 BRONCO FOR SALE 155474 – OV-10 Squadron
www.ov10squadron.com
The Bronco Is Back! A Fleet Of OV-10s Will Help Train Air Force Forward Air Controllers
The deal will give the Vietnam War-era aircraft, which haven't seen widespread U.S. military use in any capacity in decades, a new lease on life.
www.twz.com
There was a company looking at modern versions.
TACTICAL AIR VEHICLE - TAV - Icarus Aerospace
First-of-its-kind “clean slate” tactical aircraft. Highly customizable. Versatile, capable, and reliable! 90% of the mission capability of modern fighter! 15% of the cost of modern combat jet! 100% Flexibility! 24/7/365 UTILIZATION AND AUSTERE ENVIRONMENTS BY DESIGN! [UNMATCHED FLEXIBILITY OF...
www.icarus-aerospace.com
IMO this is more viable than operating MV22 for the ADF. Short field performance would be great, PNG, islands etc. Resupply by pallet drop or landing. Medi-evac is I think particularly useful. You would be able to fly much faster than a helo (at nearly 500kmph) at nearly 2000km..
It probably wouldn't be based on a LHD, but fly ops on to and off the platform. It doesn't need wires or traps to operate.