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Government drops plan to buy F-35 for navy's aircraft carriers

Given the B has conducted well in excess of 100 ship borne take off and landings vs the C's 0 I'd go with the B because it almost means the two carriers will be commissioned. One in service and one at extended readiness for a continuous capability. EMALS smelt high, high risk that could have sunk carrier ops. Factually the B has a larger payload and range than a FA18 A/B because it does not have to have fuel reserves for aborted traps. What's more with rolling vertical landings the B can carry back ordinance and fuel. It is also a force multiplier given it can operate off USMC LHD's and LPH's as well as those of our allies. As for the French argument that was a chimera. The C was too heavy to launch let alone recover from the CDG. Ironically, the B can easily operate from the CDG. at last commonsese that will see s get the two carriers instead of one.

11 May 2012

8:52 pm