Single-Seat FAC(A): The Future of the Marine Corps?

Abstract

Are U.S. Air Force pilots more capable than their Marine Corps brethren? Currently, the Marine Corps uses two-seat F/A-18Ds to provide its fixed-wing Forward Air Controller (Airborne) FAC(A) platform, while the Air Force uses single-seat F-16s and A-10s. However, the Marine Corps is currently evaluating the feasibility of executing the FAC(A) mission with single-seat F/A-18s in response to increased demand for FAC(A) capabilities in combat areas and because of the future introduction of the single-seat V/STOL version of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). The Marine Corps plans to exclusively purchase the V/STOL version of the JSF which, due to weight restrictions, will only be single-seat. This next generation of single-seat aircraft could result in the end of the two-seat fixed-wing FAC(A) platform. While the use of single-seat FAC(A)s will be beneficial to ground elements, the Marine Corps must maintain its two-seat capability or risk losing true, high-workload FAC(A) capabilities entirely.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 08, 2005
Accession Number
ADA505258

Entities

People

  • B. A. Watson

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Sensors
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Automatic Pilots
  • Combat Areas
  • Combat Forces
  • Command And Control
  • Computers
  • Data Links
  • Defense Systems
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Marine Corps
  • Military Organizations
  • Tactical Air Support
  • Tactical Data Links
  • Warfare
  • Workload

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.