Bollocks [ˈbɒləks] is a word of Anglo-Saxon origin, meaning "testicles". The word is often used figuratively in English, as a noun to mean "nonsense", an expletive following a minor accident or misfortune, or an adjective to mean "poor quality" or "useless". Similarly, the common phrases "Bollocks to this!" or "That's a load of old bollocks " generally indicate contempt for a certain task, subject or opinion.
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| NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead, and Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James Amos signed a memorandum of understanding on Navy and Marine Corps tactical aircraft integration on March 14, 2011. Under the memorandum, the Marine Corps will provide five fixed-wing squadrons to the carrier air wing. The Marine Corps will purchase 80 F-35C aircraft, the carrier-based variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, and 340 F-35B aircraft, the short take-off vertical landing variant. The decision to purchase F-35Cs is a representative of the Marine Corps’ commitment to tactical aircraft integration with the Navy. The continued development of the F-35B remains the centerpiece of the Corps' fixed-wing modernization program., Andy Wolfe, Lockheed Martin, 2/26/2011 8:13 AM |
The arranged marriage between the USMC and Navy is official on F-35. CNO Adm. Gary Roughead and Marine Corps Commandant James Amos today signed a "tactical aviation integration" agreement whereby the Marines will purchase some F-35Cs to operate from Navy aircraft carriers. The plan is for the Marines to buy 80 F-35C carrier versions and another 340 F-35B Stovl aircraft.
Sol. do u know if these C models are coming out of USN procurement $$ or USMC $$? I could swallow it a little better if it was just USMC manning of USN owned and maintained aircraft. Like the EA-6 Prowlers reserved for expeditionary ops with some AF manning.
ReplyDeletenot quite sure on whose account this is coming out of. either way this is a bad day for Marine Corps aviation.
ReplyDeleteWhy do I have this ominous feeling someone is trying to kill the F-35B!!! We would be lucky to have a plane like this in our arsenal, LUCKY! There literally is no other replacement for the Harrier, the F-35B has to come to fruition, VTOL is the key to already current and future conflicts, especially for the USMC!
ReplyDeleteAnon: All aircraft come from the DoN budget. USN/USMC aviation are siamese twins. Not a full body join, but more than the hip. We share a supply system, maintenance pubs, operating pubs. Absolutely everything. Most of us in my office were wondering why it took so long to announce this. I wouldn't be surprised if the numbers eventually reverse. Carriers still rule DoN aviation. BTW the USMC Prowlers belong to the USMC. They're not USN assets. Remember the DoN where the money comes from has two sides: USN and USMC. Don and USN are not the same thing. Many people make that mistake.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think they should replace the F-18's and AV-8's with the same number of B's and C's.
Unless we get rid of a carrier or two and make more gators. Which, let's be honest, are eminently more useful.