USS Essex has arrived in Hawaii and its bringing the F-35B to the island for the first time. The amphibious assault group will be training there to prepare for a Western Pacific and Middle East deployment.
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By Official U.S. Navy Page from United States of AmericaMCSN Jacob Owen/U.S. Navy [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The F-35Bs will operating with F-22s from the Hawaiian Air National Guard.
Should be interesting to see the inter-communications of the F-22/ ISDL and F-35/ MADL and the ISR data from the F-35/MADL passed back to the Essex ARG ships and the 13th. MEU.
Having two F-35B up in the air should be equivalent to 1.5 E-2D plus all of the radar modes/ tracking and IR displayed on the Essex upgraded, robust digital communications links and improved air command and control system. “The San Diego-based Essex got modifications to the ship and flight deck to accommodate the F-35B, as well as upgraded, robust digital communications links and improved air command and control system, Capt. Jason Burns, the ship’s commanding officer, told the audience.” If this proves to be the F-35B MADL communications to the ship, then sharing from the aircraft sensor merged overviews would be an immense upgrade from the conventional surface radar systems.
LPD-23 Anchorage has fired the 13th. MEU HIMARS from their decks and targeted/destroyed OTH 43mi. (70km) away “suspected enemy air defense site”, in exercise. Spotting by the F-35B EA/EW should provide the ISR data required for targets processing and execution.
All in all, an exciting deployment for the ARG/MEU.
IMHO
🙂