USMC going cold on STOVL JSF?

This is a couple of weeks old, but raises some interesting questions about the practicality of STOVL JSF. See what you guys think?

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CMC Not Committed to Future Jump Jet.

Marine Corps Times
December 25, 2000

By C. Mark Brinkley, Times Staff Writer

The commandant is backing down from what was, until now, the Corps’ unwavering commitment to a Marine-specific version of the Joint Strike Fighter.

Gen. James L. Jones told Marine Corps Times on Dec. 11 that the AV-8B Harrier could be replaced with a carrier-based JSF if the new vertical/short takeoff and landing technology does not develop as planned.

A Harrier replacement that can take off and land like a helicopter remains the optimal choice for the Corps’ next-generation tactical aircraft, he said. But if that means delaying the overall JSF program, Jones said, the
Corps can make do with land- and aircraft-carrier-based airplanes instead.

“You know, before we had Harriers, we had fixed-wing aviation for many years – I mean, the A-4s and all kinds of F-4s – and we had airplanes that didn’t go vertical,” Jones said. “We were able to develop that technology, and it’s been … on balance, a good thing to do. It’s certainly enabled the fixed-wing aviation portion of the Marine Corps to employ small deck carriers and the like.

“We’ll see where we get to on JSF with regard to the V/STOL. I’m very excited about JSF just because I think the potential is huge for the nation, and it’s very important.”

Jones said a Navy carrier version of the jet would give the Marine Corps an incredible capability, even without the vertical launch and landing capabilities envisioned in a Marine variant.

“But V/STOL JSF, for us to buy it, is going to have to be something pretty good,” Jones said. “I mean, we’re not going to get into another kind of – take a chance on something that isn’t going to be very, very useful and recognized within the family of tactical aviation as being an additive. I can only tell you that we’re going to wait and see. But we’re not going to
buy something that’s technologically risky.”

The Harrier has been plagued with problems during its history, at one point earning the nickname “Widow Maker” because of the number of pilots killed. Naval Air Systems Command grounded Harriers five times over the past 14 months, primarily for problems with the engine.

In September, Jones and the other general officers decided to pull the Harrier from deployments for a year or more, to give the fleet time to fix itself and pilots time to regain proficiency. In the interim, deploying Marine Expeditionary Units are supported by F/A-18 Hornets, which do not launch vertically.

“Well, that’s how we lived before we had Harriers,” Jones said.
“I believe that if we can get to V/STOL, I’m excited that we might have an option to do that. The V/STOL really can do something. It can have a force-multiplying effect.”

But if the technology only works sometimes, the Corps isn’t buying. “Just because it can go, you know, a short take-off and landing or vertical take-off and landing, but it can’t go anywhere, we’re not going to do that,” Jones said.

He hopes, however, that the Harriers will be back out at sea soon. “I think the decision to pull the Harriers is temporary, and we’ve got to fix the Harrier fleet. … This has been a nightmare for about a year and a half now or even before that, and it’s got to be the capability that gets us to JSF.

“But, again, I’m not going to push the envelope on it. I’m not going to do it if I’m not convinced that it’s inherently safe and that we’re good to go,” Jones said. “And so the reliability, maintainability, and everything else has got to be done. We’re working our way through with Rolls-Royce, and we’re trying to get there.”

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Regards,
Steve