Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.

[DRG]

There is reality and "game reality" and in this case, the game reality is USMC has access to USN air assets because, in reality, they do. It has been that way from the beginning and is not going to change. Without the USN assets, the game USMC would be missing potential air assets which in reality they would not be. USMC doesn't have its own naval support either. It relies on the USN for that.

[Karagin]

Originally Posted by DRG

There is reality and "game reality" and in this case, the game reality is USMC has access to USN air assets because, in reality, they do. It has been that way from the beginning and is not going to change. Without the USN assets, the game USMC would be missing potential air assets which in reality they would not be. USMC doesn't have its own naval support either. It relies on the USN for that.

I get that, however, if doctrine changes then they won't be calling on F18s for CAS, which is what changed, they would be calling on the F35s for CAS. Just like they don't have battleship-sized guns post 2000 to call on for naval gunfire either, and the game doesn't offer Tomahawk support to them which is something they would have access to as well.

[Suhiir]

Originally Posted by DRG

There is reality and "game reality" and in this case, the game reality is USMC has access to USN air assets because, in reality, they do. It has been that way from the beginning and is not going to change. Without the USN assets, the game USMC would be missing potential air assets which in reality they would not be. USMC doesn't have its own naval support either. It relies on the USN for that.

Another "minor" asset many OOBs (not just the USMC) have access to is naval gunfire.

Originally Posted by Karagin

I get that, however, if doctrine changes then they won't be calling on F18s for CAS, which is what changed, they would be calling on the F35s for CAS. Just like they don't have battleship-sized guns post 2000 to call on for naval gunfire either, and the game doesn't offer Tomahawk support to them which is something they would have access to as well.

If US forces are in range they have access to each other's air assets.

It was "common knowledge" (i.e. maybe true, maybe not) that during Vietnam (and reportedly Afghanistan) the US Army preferred USN and particularly USMC air support because they got down in the weeds and hit their target rather then passing 20,000 feet overhead and dropping their load somewhere in the vicinity of the target.
( In all fairness USAF A-10 pilots are a much loved exception to this. )

WinSPMBT represents assets (and formations) available during a time frame. Those available for a specific scenario are up to the scenario designer. If you're playing vs the AI then you get what's in the piclists, and that can be almost anything available during the time frame.

Originally Posted by Karagin

Can a LAWs rocket stop a current front-line MBT? Sure, engine hit or track/road wheels taken out or that lucky hit that just happens. Is it standard practice to use a LAWs rocket to take on a T80 or M1? No, however, it can be done, but no one is using that weapon system anymore to do it, with the very few exceptions of terrorist or low-end rebels.

An AT-4 or RPG can't take out most front line MBTs head on either by-the-way.

It's not a matter of what's "good" or "useful", it's one of what's available. The USMC is currently getting rid of most (if not all) of it's M1's. EVERYONE (but the USMC top brass) knows this is a mistake, but it's being done anyway.

[WilliamB]

Key.Aero reports that the U.S.A.F. accepted their first F-15EX at Boeings St. Louis facility on March 10th.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

The reports are true, started tracking in Early/Mid 2020...
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/n...ombat-aircraft
https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-w...139799.article
https://theaviationist.com/2021/02/1...-first-flight/
(From Para 8 from above"...173rd Fighter Wing of the Oregon ANG, stationed at Kingsley Field, will become the first F-15EX Formal Training Unit (FTU) in 2022, and the 142nd Fighter Wing of the Oregon ANG, stationed in Portland, will become the first F-15EX operational unit in 2023.")
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/n...-15ex-for-usaf
https://theaviationist.com/2021/02/2...-and-markings/
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...-the-air-force

Foreign Potential Sales:

India
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/n...ry-plans_15168

Indonesia
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/n...curement-plans

Abstract
A couple of points and issues for the following based on some other data I have...
1) I believe the author is under estimating the detection range versus the F-35A. I would agree with those numbers based on the original S-400 fielded but not with the current upgraded versions since fielded by the Russians.

2) The calculus will change later this year (Early next year.) when Russia fields the S-500, which they hope will be able to deal with the F-22 (However as I've already reported and "as we speak", the F-22's are getting new "skin treatments" and advanced EW systems.)

3) The F-15EX will still be the worlds heaviest weapons platform in it's class.
https://www.airforcemag.com/article/f-15ex-vs-f-35a/
https://www.airforcemag.com/PDF/Maga...rtical.v30.pdf

Regards,
Pat