"Lightning Carrier" Concept

[Husky_Khan]

The Lightning Carrier concept, originally a variation proposed with Harrier Jump Jets years ago, apparently combines loading up an Amphibious Carrier with twenty or so F-35B Lightnings on the deck, making it a sort of Light Carrier.

A few days after that test, then secretary of the Navy, Richard Spencer while speaking at the Brookings Institute said, “We have to mix the game up. About nine months ago I was looking at the USS America, a terrific amphib ship, and said, you know what, why don’t we load this thing up with F-35 Bravos, put 20 F-35 Bravos on this, and make it quote/unquote a Lightning Carrier. Well, it ends up the Marine Corps thought about that. We might try it out once and put it in a couple of exercises and know that we have it up our sleeve.” Three years later, that plan is being put into action.

Apparently part of the reason for this is to find out the right combination of air assets that might be needed to support a US Marine Corps MEU or Expeditionary Unit and having a 'Lightning Carrier" concept as one of the available options.

As a precedent, during the 2003 Iraq Invasion several Amphibious Carriers, after delivering their MEU's, transitioned into 'light carriers' that operated twenty or so Harriers off of their decks during the course of the Invasion.

Marines To Test Lightning Carrier Concept With 20 F-35Bs Aboard USS Tripoli This April

The Lightning Carrier concept has been in the works for years and will effectively see big deck amphibious assault ships turned into light carriers.

www.thedrive.com