As a side note, I've always wondered if the MEU would be better served by a 105 howitzer or 120 mortar instead of the big 155. The smaller pieces are much more mobile due to being internally transportable by helo - thoughts on the latter point?
We've been sold down the 777s at the battalion level with the Army (rightfully so). Doubt a 105 is in the future or needed. Probably need to get with an Arty guy to talk advantages vs disadvantages with regards to technical specifications. The 120s are solid and transportable and I believe a MEU a few years ago deployed with straight 120s and no 777s (fully transportable in the MV-22). Did not work out as planned for reasons I honestly can't remember and probably better if not discussed here anyway.
That being said, doing live call for fire as a skid dude is probably some of the most fun shit I've done in the helicopter so far. Also puts attack aviation in perspective for a bit too. Accurate Artillery can seriously
fuck up some people's world and I'm a huge fan of using it. Think Band of Brothers in the Bastogne episode but ten times worse.
Get out of the manned FW game altogether? It was whether or not the manned FW capabilities needed to be VTOL and operated from amphibs.
Marine Corps going all in on the VTOL design requirement has sparked cost overruns and delays for the entire F35 program and put it jeopardy several times, with the third order effect of having a bunch of Marines get killed in proficiency and maintence related mishaps involving aircraft the Corps has neglected, that would have otherwise been replaced years ago had the VTOL requirement stood in the way.
Has the juice been worth the squeeze? I'm not convinced it has.
I think you don't understand why the Marines FA-18 fleet is in its current state. The
Corps neglecting then isn't really the word I would use, but serious unexpected higher level budget issues that had serious third order ramifications plus flying the shit out of the fleet in OIF/OEF, where burning more than expected hours over head to schwack shitheads in sandals was the juice that was worth the squeeze to keep some Marines alive.
I think the VTOL version has a lot of international FMS play into these politics as well - regardless of current Marine Aviation needs/wants.