The U.S. Marine Corps is rethinking various aspects of their operations. Here's one near term example, one medium-term move, and one long term one:
* No U.S. Marine Corps attack helicopters was shot down during Operation Iraqi Freedom, but the fleet was so heavily damaged in combat that service officials are expressing doubt about two fundamental wartime roles for rotor-wing aircraft: long-range strike missions, and hovering above cities to provide close air support. I can see them qualifying both missions, but in view of the alternatives I'd be surprised if either one was taken off the list.
* Marines in space? Well, they certainly use space for communications, GPS, and other critical tasks. So, the service has formed Marine Forces Strategic Command (MARFORSAT) to link to U.S. military space operations.
* That said, Marines in space may become a reality one day. A reader's email informs me that the Marine Corps is talking to Special Operations Command and Air Force Space Command to help spur the development of a vehicle that could transport troops from the U.S. to any part of the globe within 2 hours. Hypersonic low-space planes have been studied for 30 years, and are probably another 20-30 years away. The Marines know that, but they also know that expressing their needs now and recruiting allies can help guide R&D investments in the directions they want.
Heinlein's book StarShip Troopers(not the terrible movie by the same name) predicted that 40-ish years ago...
It's a crackin' good read.
Given that reality about the vulnerability of rotor driven craft in big cities - I wonder how the V-22 Osprey is being viewed now - faster for transport at least.
Faster for transport, longer range, higher payload capacity. All good things, though they may be cancelled by the cost (incl. increased maintenance costs) and hence numbers ordered.
But more survivable? I would think the V-22 would be less so.
Best way to solve the big cities problem is armed drones (UAVs and robot ground vehicles), as long as they can pack the required weapons, can engage well in urban settings and don't end up costing millions of dollars each. Right now, they can't meet those standards.
Planes like the AC-130 "Spectre" gunships are very well suited to the support, but not in the face of serious anti-aircraft fire. Spectres are also very expensive, but maybe a cut-down version on a smaller STOL airframe (Dash-7?) would work. the firepower is, however, traded for some lack of precision in urban environments.
Which is why there's still no substitute for the helicopter. Tactics may have to change. Rules of Engagement may have to change (some of the damage in Iraq stems from ver restrictive rules that gave the enemy lots of clear 'no retaliaiton' shots). But in urban areas, the helicopter is still going to play a major role for the forseeable future.
Heinlein's book StarShip Troopers(not the terrible movie by the same name) predicted that 40-ish years ago...
What do you mean terrible? It had giant bugs in it!!!
Not to get too off topic with sci-fi references, but Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card has a very interesting take on the future of combat in zero-g.
But as I thought about the story more, it has more relevance to the roots of blogging. There are two pre-teen characters who shape world policies through fictitious personas on the 'net'.
I think the Osprey is an albatross. But what I really see as fulfilling the close air support mission is the A-10. It should be taken away from the Air Force and given to the Army and Marines. The Air Force doesn't want the mission but doesn't want anyone else to have it either. The A-10 is one of the best planes for bang for the buck we've ever had, and most importantly is the best plane we have for getting the pilot home alive.
Well, what we really need then is something as durable and well-armored as the A-10 but which can hover and maneuver in built-up areas like a helicopter.
I understand It'll be awhile since we have anything like that.
(Installed a new modem).
The Marines should adopt at a next-gen Warthog with ESTOL capabiity and scrap the Helos for attack roles.
heres a plan: buy up a bunch of german APC'S (wiesel)(or maybe us M113 APC) and load them into transport helos for ground missions instead of flying stupid footsoldiers into the fire. and use small attack helos like the Kiowa Warrior to nail the crap out of machinegun nests or places where a lot of troops would be moving through, and the apache to fulfill its initial mission: anti tank, and not infantry engagement. use chinooks after the LZ has been satisfactorily cleared to land several troops at once and bring in larger weaponry(175 mm artillery, etc)
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