Diamond Jim wrote:
"Henry J Cobb" wrote in message
...

A: The Navy intends to reduce it's purchase of F-35Cs by deploying more
Marine Corps strike fighter squadrons on board big deck carriers.

B: The USMC plans to buy zero F-35Cs.

Does A + B mean that the next USN big deck carrier will have a ski ramp?

No why should they have ramps. They Navy doesn't have ramps on the Amphibs
when the Marines deploy the Harriers on them. The F-35B's deployed on the
carrier would most likely be used as air to ground attack aircraft with the
Navy F-35C's doing the air to air/ fleet protection mission. Besides they
may still put some kind of catapult launch system on the F-35B (bridle ?).

The Gators are mainly helicopter carriers with a reduced (i.e.
TAIP-sized, around 10 planes) Harrier squadron. They need flightdeck
space more than range.

Wouldn't a ramp cause problems for V-22 takeoffs?

-HJC