USMC Death Spiral. Did the F-35 kill Marine ground vehicle improvement?

Bill Sweetman, Eric Palmer and Australia Airpower all talked about the F-35's costs going so high that it would inevitably go into a death spiral.

They were off target with that assessment.

It appears that the F-35 will be dragged across the finish line no matter the costs.

Is Marine Corps armor one of those costs?  The USMC has always had a grunt as Commandant, an Assistant Commandant for Aviation, and an Assistant Commandant for logistics.  Now we have an Aviator in the Commandant's chair, and the rest of the structure remaining the same.  Did that imbalance the Corps to the needs of aviation over the needs of its ground forces?

I think so.

Consider this.  The ACV has been delayed.  Delayed.  And delayed again.  Meanwhile, aviation projects are moving ahead full speed.  Just yesterday we got news that the Marine Personnel Carrier program was being "delayed" awaiting the outcome of the ACV program.

The Corps is out of balance.  What will fix the situation?  I have no idea but this is not a good development and the F-35 could be the blame for it all.

I don't know the answer but between the MV-22, F-35, AH-1Z, UH-1Y and eventually the CH-53K we will have a brand new air fleet.  Meanwhile what is promised for improvement for our ground combat vehicle fleet?  The JLTV.  A JLTV that many see as too heavy and not a leap ahead of a project improved Humvee.

We're screwed.