Sturdevant said that move became possible in part because of the expansion and development at Bastion, which already was in use in 2009 and 2010 despite not yet having an entirely closed perimeter wall. A $200 million runway stretching more than two miles was installed in 2010, enabling U.S. forces there to land C-5 cargo planes, 747 passenger jets, which are used as troop charters, and other behemoth aircraft.
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-Value of STOVL F-35B over-hyped
3 comments:
The largest single-day loss of USMC air assets since Vietnam, inflicted by insurgents with nothing more potent than standard light infantry kit.
And the wonderful advantage of forward basing CAS airframes is what, again? Evidently not physical security of said frames.
So what would the price tag have been if the infiltrators had destroyed six new F-35B airframes instead of shopworn old Harriers?
STOVL makes no sense in a COIN environment.
Unless defence in depth can be provided out to maybe 20 kilometres, which is physically impossible, aircraft will always be targeted by rocketry or whatever. Hardened sheltering is not practicable in remoter locations, so some risk of losing platforms has to be accepted.
As in many other conflicts where the strategy has been patrolling from garrisons, the enemy will always have the advantage.
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