Page 10 - F-35B and USMC

The Integration of the F-35B into USMC Operations

I understand the Marines are looking to accelerate full motion video capability. When & Why (I believe it
is scheduled for Block 4.3)?

I do believe we found a way to bring it on faster than Block 4.3. It’s one of the things we use (actually we were
one of the pioneers for streaming video out of our lightning pods) for our guys on the ground. Our forward air
controllers (FACs) love using that.

I think they’ll also like the other capabilities of this airplane too like the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) map
through the clouds. The full motion video does not provide that at all right now, it’s really streaming video (not
full motion video). Bottom line, if the customer wants it, we try and provide it. I believe it may be implemented
for Block 4.1 or 4.2.

Can we discuss the AEGIS integration & practical effects?
I wish I had my Navy counterpart here, Admiral Rowden was very excited about it. It was a Navy idea. Col.
Rowell (Col. George “Sack” Rowell, VMX-1 Commanding Officer) will you address AEGIS integration?

Rowell; The first experience took place 2 months ago with the “AEGIS” at White Sands (Desert Ship). An F-35
targeted a cruise missile surrogate and provided the targeting data to the AEGIS platform. What AEGIS really
brings is a weapons payload.

The General just talked about hot loading the aircraft with weapons. AEGIS cruisers bring a weapons payload,
that just could not fit on an airplane.

We are talking about dozens and dozens of missiles. SM-6s that can be targeted by airborne platforms at a
much greater distance than they could independently target.
Does this fit in with distributed lethality?

Absolutely. The F-35 digitally sent the targeting data through to the AEGIS using multi-function advanced
datalink (MADL) and the AEGIS shot – and that was a live shoot, a live SM-6 came out of White Sands and
destroyed the target.

Are there any other aircraft that can do that?
No, nothing else (using MADL) can do that. The Navy has AEGIS cruisers all over. We establish data links with
local cruisers. DT-III did everything shy of shooting the missile, established the data link, passed the data, and
validated the data.

Davis; The F-35 & AEGIS are a great Naval integration story, there is a lot of potential, a lot of excitement. Not
a Harrier, or Hornet, this is a totally a new and different capability. The MV-22 was a disruptive technology and
it changed our assumptions about how we are going to operate an assault platform from a sea base. It also
changed drastically what we do ashore.

This jet will do that for us as well, and I am proud of the Marine Corps for being up front and leading this
thing. And if you had enough real estate to put as many aircraft as possible on a ship like this, there are
conditions and situations where you would want to do that.

I think its primary mode will be as an amphibious ship loaded with our typical MEU capability. But there are times
we would want to load up like this (jet heavy).

Second Line of Defense

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