The question has been asked. What happens to the MEU if the F-35 gets delayed? In my estimation. Not much. You have to remember the missions that the MEU is tasked to undertake. Then you take a look at the highest threat missions...setting the stage for more follow on forces, and amphibious raids, you get a big meh when you consider that F-35's are left behind and AV-8B's are used instead.
But lets do a shits and giggles and take it to an extreme. Lets say that the F-35B is delayed (as I'm pushing for in preference for getting Marine Armor in shape) and suddenly the AV-8B's suffer some kind of catastrophic issue grounding the entire fleet. What then?
Up Step The Cobra.
When the Marine Corps first developed the LHA it was a pure Helicopter Carrier. No fast jets, no well deck, nothing but transport helicopters and attack helicopters. It got the job done and while we've integrated STOVL aircraft onto their larger descendants we could temporarily flex back into the old skool method. Drop the Hellfires, use laser guided 2.75 rockets add extra fuel (I'm not sure if you can use rockets with fuel tanks but someone does) and you can still get Raids done. If properly executed you can even do an amphibious landing for follow on forces. You would have to accept greater risk and depend on a Burke Destroyer for your Anti-Air efforts but it should be doable. Additionally this tailored MEU (meaning without STOVL fast movers) would allow for the carry of many, MANY more Cobras. But you don't like the Cobra reinforce MEU? How about this....
Bronco Comes Back.
During the Vietnam War both the Navy and Air Force made use of World War II warhorses. Whats actually surprising about the Iraq and Afghanistan wars is that we didn't do the same. It would have been perfectly understandable (especially in Afghanistan) to utilize some of our old propeller driven aircraft to perform either Fast FAC or even air support missions. Many like to point to the UAV as successfully replacing those airplanes but in a fluid situation with moving targets and the need too quickly and precisely apply weaponry to bad guy behind you need a set of eye balls in the cockpit, not in Nevada. Having said that SOCOM is working on a program to bring the Bronco back so it would make nothing but sense for the USMC to participate. If for no other reason than to provide a proper escort to the MV-22. If we do decide to delay the F-35B then we could augment our Cobras with Broncos if the worst case happens.
Long story short. We survive.
The answer is simple. We survive. We make do, we adjust and we get it done. The craziest part of all of this is that we bought practically new (they're were rebuilt by the Brits) AV-8 Harriers that are sitting around waiting to be put into service. I truly believe that those airplanes were bought with the idea that the F-35B would be delayed. We chose a different course and now they're being rushed into service. I still believe that's the wrong course of action. If you're heading down a trail and your stomach is telling you its an ambush. Your troops are telling you they feel something wrong....and the birds have stopped chirping then you might be walking into an ambush. Well Commandant. I'm telling you that something is wrong. The birds have stopped chirping and we might be walking into an ambush.
