The Navy’s USS America, the first of her class, was controversially optimized to handle the F-35, leaving out the multi-purpose well deck traditionally found on ‘Gator Navy’ flattops. Now, just months after her commissioning, she already needs 40 weeks of upgrades just to handle the very aircraft she was designed for.







The F-35's data-link, known as Multi-function Advanced Data Link, is stealthy in nature as it uses low power, has low probability of intercept functions (jumping frequencies, quickly bursting data etc) and utilizes a series of antennas mounted all around the jet under the aircraft's skin to send data directly to other F-35s within line of sight.

These F-35s create an invisible 'daisy chain' of information flow, drastically increasing their situational awareness and tactical options. In contrast, Link 16/MIDS, an other forms of popular data links and waveforms are omni-directional, use more power and not necessarily low-probability of intercept (stealthy).



For aircraft carriers or large land forces that include F-35 operations, fusing MADL's information with Link 16 information will be done via connectivity node, such as a E-11 BACN, E-2D Hawkeye, E-3 Sentry or even an unmanned aircraft such as a EQ-4 Global Hawk. The problem with expeditionary warfare as part of a Gator Navy Expeditionary Strike Group is that they do not have an E-3D Hawkeye to fuse and relay beyond line-of-sight information like the Navy's super carriers do. That is unless they want to be tied to USAF or Naval Aviation assets, which would hamper their flexibility and independence.

As a result, either the USMC has to come up with some new unmanned aircraft that can pack a relay system and that can be launched off the deck of an LHD or LHA, or they need to outfit the Osprey with such a system. On the high-end this could be a Airborne Early Warning & Control variant of the V-22 itself, or at the very least, a modular roll-on, roll-off relay system that can be installed in any Osprey's hold.