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F-35 LIGHTNING II F-35B into service
and this exercise was really a validation
of that,” Vaughn explained. “If we’re
integrated with air force F-35As for example,
they know what we’re doing and we know
what they’re doing. That’s because we’re all
baselined on the same tactical execution.
“A lot is talked about the F-35’s
warfighting capabilities. Sure, we still
have bugs to work out, but we’ve made
huge strides to understand this airplane
a lot more. The bottom line is we can
deploy right now and if we had to go to
combat tomorrow we’d be very lethal.”
Lt Col Vaughn calls basic fighter
manoeuvres (BFM): “a stepping stone to
everything we do in the air-to-air role”.
He adds: “You’ve got to be able to fight in
close if you can’t take care of the problem
at long range. With the Block 3F software
the envelope starts opening up, so we
will be able to do more BFM and we are
starting to learn a lot more about that.”
The mission that is often discussed in
relation to USMC tactical aviation is close
air support (CAS). Much has been said
of the fact that it’s about the mindset and
training, and that the platform is largely
irrelevant. However, if that platform can’t
permit a versatile approach to the mission,
it does rather limit the art of what’s possible.
“As Marines, CAS has a special place in our
hearts,” explains Vaughn. “CAS is about
effects on targets. You either do or don’t
meet the intent of the ground commander- that’s who you’re working for. As long as
you can put a weapon where he or she needs
it to be, then you’re successful in CAS.
“The F-35’s stealth is awesome, but it’s just
a tool in our toolbox. The airplane’s centre of
gravity is its sensors – they are what make this
aircraft so different.
The combination
of the sensors and a
tremendous weapons-
carrying potential
once we start adding
external pylons with
3F will be awesome.”
ABOVE: A large liquid-crystal colour display dominates the F-35’s cockpit. ‘Finger on glass’
brings the pilot everything from navigation and threat warnings to target designation and
ordnance displays. The left-hand inceptor (throttle) works like cruise control; it commands a
height rate. If the pilot lets go of the stick, the jet will just ‘sit there’. Jamie HunterABOVE: An F-35B ies over MCAS Yuma in Mode 4 (STOVL) con guration. Jamie Hunter
BELOW: A VMX-1 F-35B ies near MCAS Yuma during test work over the nearby ranges. Jamie Hunter