The Marines have always been trying to justify their mission and budget. Having their own air support is a big advantage. However, in today's procurement environment paying $85 USDM+ for an F-35 just to haul bombs is not the best bang for the buck.
I think a drone that could be operated from Battalion or Regiment that could carry a Hydra rocket pod
Even the Hydra 70 rocket, a longtime staple on attack helicopters such as the AH-64 Apache and a weapon that dates to the Korean War, is finding new life aboard unmanned aerial vehicles. The 3.5-foot-long, 13.5-pound rockets made by General Dynamics Corp. have been fired from a Vigilante drone developed by SAIC Inc. in a test at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground.
The Pentagon plans to arm unmanned helicopters with Hydra 70 rockets as part of the so-called Advanced Precision Weapon Kill System, which is designed to fill a gap between Hellfire missiles and unguided Hydra rockets. The Navy last year began arming the the MQ-8B Fire Scout helicopter drone with the system, which uses a launcher originally developed for the Army's canceled Comanche attack helicopter.
MQ-8B: link
You can purchase 6 drones for the price of an F-35, they'll operate closer to the FEBA, can fly off carriers, no pilot training costs or ATA needed and can loiter at 20,000 feet for 3 hours. They are half of the cost of the AH1-Z Viper and no pilots needed.
The Army and Marine Corps are also looking at ways to further incorporate the 2-pound kamikaze drone called Switchblade and developed by AeroVironment Inc. The system can be launched by hand and fly directly into a target.
Wolfhag
expands his 15mm modern building collection.
