The Raymond “Chip” Dudderar’s opinion has been published in The National Interest. The point of view expressed in this article is authorial and do not necessarily reflect BM`s editorial stance.

***

WASHINGTON, (BM) – The fifth-generation F-35 fighters jet in modern conditions are unlikely to really be useful to the US Marine Corps (USMC). Moreover, these expensive machines and their maintenance will place a heavy burden on the military, learned BulgarianMilitary.com according the test pilot Raymond “Chip” Dudderar’s opinion.

“The short-take-off and vertical-landing aircraft of the US Marine Corps F-35 fighter jet exist today only because the USMC continues to insist that it needs its own high-speed air force to provide air support to the landing forces on shore,” said Dudderar.

In his opinion, this belief has existed since the Battle of Guadalcanal during World War II, when marines often lacked air support. Because the command of the USMC insisted on its own powerful fleet of aircraft. The expert believes that at the moment such a premise is erroneous when planning the landing operations of the future.

“As in the case of the Harrier jet (a British attack aircraft with the possibility of vertical / short take-off and landing), the burden of logistical support for the F-35 fighter jet at the base on the shore is prohibitively burdensome,” Raymond Dudderar is sure. “Fuel, bombs, ammunition, parts, tools, maintenance personnel, self-defense forces to protect all these valuable assets – this is too much” he added

Placed at the ground base, the F-35 fighter jet will be seriously threatened by enemy ground and air attacks. This can lead to the fact that it is necessary to distract manpower directly from landing operations – and all in order to protect expensive fighters.

By the way, USMC Commander General David Berger has already noted that the purchase of the F-35 fighter jet for the forces under his command may be reduced by 420 units. He also intends to reduce the number of vehicles in each squadron from 16 to 10, which should increase the mobility of units and facilitate their management.

***

Follow us everywhere and at any time. BulgarianMilitary.com has responsive design and you can open the page from any computer, mobile devices or web browsers. For more up-to-date news from us, follow our YouTube, Reddit, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook pages. Do not miss the chance to subscribe to our newsletter. Subscribe and read our stories in News360App in AppStore or GooglePlay or in FeedlyApp in AppStore or GooglePlay

Subscribe to Google News

>>Be a reporter: Write and send your article.<<

BulgarianMilitary.com

Editorial team

Original source: RG.ru