We live in a twisted world.
Once the USMC made a name for itself, set the standard for Marine Corps worldwide, and won fame for saving the taxpayer money by using cast offs from other services. (and yes, I know I'm being twisted myself by insisting that we need a new vehicle instead of soldiering on with the AAV but bear with me).
Now we see the last flight of the UH-1N in USMC service and the Air Force is/was/might be, floating the idea of using our cast offs for their nuclear security mission. I remain unconvinced that they will save more money doing this than simply hopping onto the Army purchase of UH-60s and tagging onto their supply/maintenance/training systems. I suspect that this has more to do with the delayed Rescue Helicopter purchase and them not wanting to get stuck with Congress seeing the savings and making them buy Blackhawks.
But back to the USMC.
F-35B, AH-1Z, UH-1Z, MV-22B/C, British Harriers, KC-130J and soon the CH-53K.
Those are the major purchases the Marine Corps has made in the last decade and will dominate the next.
You can tell we have a pilot in the Commandant's chair.
