Aethulwulf wrote:A routine deployment of F35 onboard a carrier is not the same as a deployment of fast jets for combat ops.
I guess most routine (6 month?) carrier deployments are unlikely to involve combat ops. The period aboard will be spent much like any period at the home base with a mixture of training, exercises and maintenance, possibly spiced up with a few QRA or operational tasking.
So if a carrier deploys with 12 or 24 F35s, not all of them would be expected to be immediately ready for combat at any time.
Interesting. This is what I had assumed. Even during peace time the carrier will deploy to medium threat environments or might have to respond to emergent threats. It makes more sense for the jets to be on the carrier, even if not immediately combat ready (or indeed they are not intended to be used on the deployment unless things kick off), rather than fly them out from the UK to the carrier after a threat has emerged.
With that in mind, Perhaps someone could help with estimations for the total size of the F35b fleet required for the following (based on my ill-informed assumptions so please feel free to correct me):
-Each carrier will deploy for 6 months out of 18.
-The deployment periods will not overlap (unless things have really gotten out of hand)
-QE the strike carrier will deploy with 18 F35b
-PoW as commando carrier /amphibious assault will deploy with 6 F35b
-therefore, in any 18 month period 18 F5Bs will be required for 6 months, 6 will be required for 6 months and 0 will ne required for 6 months
- on average, this equates to a mean continuous availability of 8 F35b over the 18 month period
Is this doable with 2 frontline squadrons if they are dedicated to carrier ops?
Is 48 airframes (those currently committed) sufficient the for this level of deployment, the OCU, Test and evaluation, and attrition and sustainment fleet?