Marines Look To Protect Major Programs

Aviation Week and Space Technology ^ | 12/3/2010 | Paul McLeary, Kimberly Johnson, Mike Fabey

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

November, President Barack Obama’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform released a stunning report detailing areas where commission members say they found $200 billion of proposed cuts in the federal government—and although the report was released on the Marine Corps’ 235th birthday (Nov. 10), the USMC took a beating.

The commission, whose full report was to be released Dec. 1, called for cancellation of the troubled V-22 Osprey program, capping it at 288 aircraft, while substituting MH-60 helicopters to meet some of the Osprey’s planned missions. The commission also called for cancellation of the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) and the F-35B version of the Joint Strike Fighter, all of which would add up to almost $43 billion in savings, but at severe emotional cost to the Corps, which has long held the Osprey and EFV as centerpieces of its modernization strategy.

While no one expects all of the suggestions to be adopted, the report is a good indication of the level of congressional frustration with long-term, expensive Pentagon projects.

The Bell/Boeing MV-22 Osprey is in many ways the Marines’ flagship program. Only the Marines and Air Force special operations selected the tiltrotor to meet their needs for lift.

The V-22 has been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and took part in the assault on Marja in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province in 2009, ferrying Marines to the battlefield. A second squadron is deployed in Afghanistan, and another is making the type’s third at-sea cruise with a Marine Expeditionary Unit. The Corps has 130 aircraft and is progressing toward a goal of a 330-aircraft fleet.

[Yet_Again]

the USMC took a beating

In other news, the Marines have taken the leadership role in opposing the repeal of DADT. I'm not surprised that Obama is allergic to them.

[peeps36]

Not one cent should be cut from the Marines budget until the filthy politicians cut every penny going to support illegal aliens. Are we suppose to ignore all the money illegals cost us every year? Cut money for illegals before everything else.

[ConorMacNessa]

The Marine Corps, though not large, is fierce. Cut them out and you cut the heart out of the U.S. military. But that's exactly what this misbegotten Regime intends to do. You want to save money? Cut all the worthless welfare programs we have!

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[jimpick]

Man I remember the beating Rumsfeld took when he said you go to war with the army you have. So now I am to believe that the Dumbs cared about the equipment the marines have.

The V-22 is needed to get as many marines on site as fast as possible. Helo’s are around half as fast, and aircraft can’t land without a runway.

This is like the first gulf war when the marines went in with Vietnam era tanks. The Army had m-1’s and the Marines had M-60’s. This is just more proof that the Dumbs don’t care about the military.

[central_va]

Well if they lose the DADT debate they better start issuing kevlar™ underwear.

[A.A. Cunningham]

The Marines deployed 76 M1A1s; 60 borrowed from the Army, during Desert Storm in addition to their M60s.

[jimpick]

Yeh borrowed tanks my point exactly. They want the same thing to happen again. Send the Marines into the worst fighting with the worst equipment.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

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