weasel1962 wrote:Flight goes in with a ground tanker, refuels, rearms and then off its goes on another sortie.
I'd swap out pilots and replenish stores on ground then immediately launch them, to get everyone clear of the runway and any incoming anti-personnel munitions risk, earlier.
Do all the tanking in the air. I don't see how a tanker on the ground is any faster, safer or more desirable, looks like more to go wrong doing that.
These 5th-gen fighters don't have to move in tight formation, except for when arriving and leaving the FARP.
In other words, as soon as they launch they meet and top-off on a tanker then immediately and individually proceed to IPs and launch. i.e. let the networked autopilot's of each jet negotiate the speed of each jet in order to regain a desired open formation, after such post FARP launch tanking.
And also have datalinked standoff weapons manage their own flight speed to achieve tighter desired TOT (i.e. when timing and position actually counts. Doing that should also make it harder to engage them in transit plus increases their sensors footprint feedback areas. So they come together just before terminal phase, but not before, complicating the task of defeating the attack weapons.
That way strike aircraft do not have to maintain a formation, and also launching weapons at different times, will not impair 5th-gen range as much, though it may attenuate the full-range of the weapons, somewhat. Better to sacrifice some range of weapons that way than to hinder maximizing the manned platform performance and margins though, IMO.
In this way fuel is not being wasted whilst loitering and awaiting other members of the flight to top-off fuel (post FARP launch). 5th-gen don't need a constant close wingman for support when they're not seen or tracked at BVR ranges.
And a formation that's strung out is actually more advantageous for the flight's sensor footprint and SA, plus also better serves networked data inputs. Plus a more strung out strike flight equates to longer flight tracking on contacts that were found and IDed along the route, for other flights to deal with, or to get a heads-up on and cue sensors and weapons, i.e. a more sustained air-supremacy will result and better cumulative tactical ISR dominance as well.
Plus if the tanker remains in the air at all times it can withdraw at 480 knots on warning, from OTHR, E-2, E-3 or E-7, plus pipe data via relay service to other forces, and provide F-35s on the FARP with continuous SA, plus relay warning of attack and a time to weapon arrival, to get people clear of a FARP in time.
If the tanker has
2 x F-35 Escorts configured for air to air (8 BVR AAM), then these
have no need to even land at the FARP, they don't need anything. So the escorts would be able to provide tactical EA and jamming services to suppress ISR targeting drones or aircraft detected approaching or operating near to a FARP, thus to delay any effective counter-strikes on the active FARP. Plus they provide constant radar and DAS observations, SA and air defense for the still flying tanker, and for active FARP activity.
So only 4 to 8 strike F-35A/B need to land at the FARP.
All else is done by air-drop fly overs, and occasional quick in and out visits by support aircraft, to move people and kit.
It would be hard to approach and knock-out such a FARP that has a good SA picture, via an attempted OPFOR ground force, and OPFOR air, naval and artillery power are unlikely to shut it down for long. So OPFOR weapons would predictably be forced to concentrate on destroying the surfaces, and seeding the area with anti-personnel munitions. Which requires unmanned vehicles than can systematically remove any of these between FARP uses and surface repairs. So keep V-22 on the Island for evac of injured but store out of sight.
Not sure what to do about special forces from subs, except their time of arrival would be delayed by several days to a week, and random active pingers may deter a subs from approaching. Alternatively the FARP operates a mobile mortar, rocket or drone that can launch active sonobuoys into surrounding waters, at random times and locations, to relay any contacts to the network for a P-8A on station to address, or for a Romeo to follow up. At least that could provide warning of special forces within the area, and provide a response before they can get ashore.
Alternatively, an unmanned hovering drone with active dipping-sonar - but that needs a constant supply of fuel. An autonomous semi-submersible fuel-barge from a small-amphib ship insert may be the solution here, plus would provide a couple of V-22 with fuel for evacuation/withdrawal options from the Island.