The first F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing stealth fighter operates in vertical-landing mode on a special "hover pit" at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, during an April test. Photo by lockheedmartin.com Kill The Harrier And F-35B -- Strategy Page
February 2, 2012: The U.S. Marine Corps is rethinking its need for vertical-takeoff jets like the Harrier and F-35B. There are several reasons for this. First there is cost. The replacement for the Harrier and the F-35B will be expensive, costing over $100 million each. Worse, these vertical takeoff aircraft tend to have more accidents, which increases the cost of keeping them in service. Operating these aircraft from forward airbases is not used that much anymore because getting fuel and other supplies is much more difficult and expensive and smart bombs eliminate the need to have jet fighter-bombers based so close to the front lines. In effect, the smart bomb, especially the GPS guided ones, have eliminated most of the advantages of the vertical takeoff jet. What combat aircraft need now is endurance (which vertical takeoff jets lack) to stay over the battlefield until a smart bomb is needed down there. Cheaper aircraft, like the F-18E, can do this more cheaply and effectively.
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My Comment: At a cost of $100 million for each F-35B .... yup .... money is tight and there are other places that need it. Let the Air Force fly the fancy planes.
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