Page 61 - F-35B and USMC

The Integration of the F-35B into USMC Operations

The decade behind us was one where the platforms became connected and the joint and coalition force
learned to leverage the benefits of such a force.

Now that is assumed, and the build forward is now to shape an distributed but integrated force.

First, platforms are expected to be interoperable.

If they are not, then they need to be replaced. The Australian Plan Jericho has been exploring among other
things, how to bring those platforms considered important which are not interoperable with the combined
force into the picture.

For example, in a Jericho Dawn exercise held last March, the Aussies sought to find ways to take an important
Army asset, the Tiger assault helicopter, and to connect it to the RAAF’s air combat force.

According to an Australian Ministry of Defence press release on March 21, 2016, the exercise was described
as follows:

Our Army is focussed on two key areas to ensure improved air-land integration. The first is to deliver better
communication systems to ensure an agile, efficient and timely response to an intelligent, well-armed and
motivated adversary,” said Major General McLachlan.
“The second is to advance how we plan and conduct air-land operations to deliver the right effect, at the right
place, at the right time.

“The demonstration highlights how we can better harness the strengths of our team by digitally connecting air and
land platforms…..

Capabilities involved include RAAF’s C-17A, AP-3C, KC-30A, E-7A Wedgetail and FA-18 Hornet aircraft, as
well as the Army’s air-land enablers from the 16th Air Land Regiment, Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters
from 1st Aviation Regiment, and vehicles and equipment from the Combined Arms Training Centre.

http://www.sldinfo.com/jericho-dawn-the-aussies-shape-21st-century-ground-maneuver-forces/

Second, platforms are expected to be integratable from the ground up.
As Air Marshal Leo Davis put it:

“It is like a jig saw puzzle.

You have these really nice pieces to the puzzle sitting in the container, but until you begin to look at the
picture your trying to create through the overall puzzle, you do not know which bit goes where.”

With regard to F-35 as an example, Davies argued the following:

“I think Joint Strike Fighter on its own, a fifth generation air combat aircraft, could be regarded as just an air
combat aircraft.

If you want to shoot the bad guy down, if you want to defend the battle space for a land maneuver or for a
maritime strike, that’s fine.

But what we’re beginning to appreciate now is that it’s not just an air combat asset it is also an ISR node.

If you were to then put two more pieces of your puzzle down and go, “Well that’s starting to form a bit of a
picture here,” in the center of your puzzle. ”

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