Originally Posted by
F15andMD11
Do we really need STOL? Have the Marines ever used that capability from a remote strip? The B can't vertically takeoff, too heavy. It can only vertically land, and that's on a very well prepared surface. Forget highway strip, it will melt the asphalt. The B also can't land vertically with munitions that it returns with, again too heavy...really? Its so heavy, because if its required STOL gear that it has no range. We can save billions on that project alone.
The remote-strip mission would be applicable during an invasion scenario. It's part of USMC doctrine for expeditionary ops. Do we still need to do amphib invasions? That's a higher-level issue. Maybe the B mission could be handled by carrier-based aircraft instead.
But the day-to-day application of STOVL is to provide strike/fighter capability to the Amphibious Ready Groups. This is a legit requirement since the ESGs often operate far from any other support. STOVL allows them to provide CAS to their ground forces, and self-defense if needed. An ARG is a lot of people and hardware, and could be vulnerable to red air in some circumstances. Lack of STOVL would alter ARG capability, and that's not an insignificant part of our global forward presence.
You could even argue that AV-8Bs are too limited, particularly in the fighter role, and that the F-35 is actually a long-needed fix to that shortfall.