Parlor game

Contest: create operational requirements for all services that will purchase as few combat-coded F-35s as possible.

I will start out with a few.

Option 1 (C only)

U.S. Navy 15 squadrons of 16 F-35Cs. Each squadron has 12 F-35s and 4 KA-35 tankers. Tac-air for carrier air wing: 2 F-35 squadrons; 1 UCAS-N squadron. All Hornets retired.

USMC: None

USAF: 20 F-35C Squadrons. 18 aircraft per squadron.

Option 2 (F-35B only)

USN: none
USMC: 10 F-35B squadrons. 16 aircraft each.
USAF: 20 F-35B squadrons. 18 aircraft each.


Option 3 (USN-USMC only)

USN: (as option 1)
USMC: (as option 2)
USAF: none

Option 3 (Post USAF)

US Army Aviation: 5 Aviation Brigades, each with 1 F-35 Battalion (16 F-35Bs); 1 CH-47 Battalion: 1 AH-64 battalion.

USMC: As option 2

USN: None

Goal: Fewer airframes means less sustainment dollars wasted per year.

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