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SlothmanAllen said:

As an aside, I read the above article and since it mentions the squadron that was deployed I went and looked up their photos on DVIDS. Totally anecdotal, but it did seem like the F-35’s on that deployment were in excellent condition when pictured throughout the deployment. Again, it’s is easy to hide problems with photos that can be cherry picked, but I thought it was an interesting experiment.

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The following really jumped out at me:

“Our deployed readiness was higher than it's been on the MEU for F-35 for quite some time, because the Boxer’s [Afloat Spares Packages] was built to have 10 jets, but we only had six [onboard] for most of the deployment, so we had more parts available than if we would were to have all 10 jets,” Schmidt told Defense One. “I had excess parts and I had excess manpower.”
...
It also helps to have maintainers available around the clock, as happens on shipboard deployments. In their labor-intensive fight against corrosion, Schmidt said, maintainers must pull panels from the jet, use a wire brush and abrasives to remove the corrosion, and then reapply the jet’s low-observable coating.

“We were able to combat corrosion because I had 24-hour maintenance. We are on the ship. They don't have to go home. They live on the ship,” Schmidt said. Jobs that might have taken more than a month ashore were getting done in a week, he said."

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So your pictures reflected reality but circumstances and hard work made them possible.

I'm grappling with why/how that interview with Lt. Col. Benjamin Schmidt was allowed to be published in a public forum. This is a serious mark against the predicted operational readiness of the F-35 using the predicted sparing and manning logistics requirements:

“Our deployed readiness was higher than it's been on the MEU for F-35 for quite some time, because ... I had excess parts and I had excess manpower.”

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In other words, twice the parts and twice the manpower were needed to meet predicted (specified) operational readiness. I really don't know why this interview wasn't classified but it certainly is an indictment on the JPO's inadequacy (inability) matching sparing and manning resources to the actual maintenance needs of the aircraft.

These problems aren't unique to the USMC and its F-35s. They exist across across the entire maritime domain: USN (eg, deferred maintenance killed Aegis cruiser modernization); CG (eg, leasing a Polar-class ship because its own is essentially irreparable); MM (eg, removing from service almost two dozen ships because manning isn't available).

And now the Tech Bros are waltzing in with their promises of salvation if only the rule books are rewritten or, even better, tossed out. The Trump administration will be entertaining but I doubt it will be productive.

RobertC said:

The following really jumped out at me:

So your pictures reflected reality but circumstances and hard work made them possible.

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This is a cherry picked image, but you can see how sharp the aircraft look. Even in the extreme environment of this photo. Again, without the context surrounding this particular aircraft it is basically impossible to really determine the usability or reliability of this aircraft. Though, if you look at the photos released from VMFA-225 on DVIDS, all of the aircraft look to be in great shape during that five month deployment.

Also, this is just a great excuse to post an awesome image!

U.S. Super Hornet Shot Down Over Red Sea in Friendly Fire Incident; Aviators Safe​

Two U.S. Navy aviators are safe after their two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet was shot down by an American ship by mistake, according to a late Saturday statement from U.S. Central Command.

The Super Hornet, assigned to aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), was flying over the Red Sea when guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG-64) fired upon it, according to the CENTCOM statement.

“Both pilots were safely recovered. Initial assessments indicate that one of the crew members sustained minor injuries,” reads a statement from CENTCOM.
“This incident was not the result of hostile fire, and a full investigation is underway.”
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What are the odds this wasn't a "friendly fire" incident?

CaribouTruth said:

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U.S. Super Hornet Shot Down Over Red Sea in Friendly Fire Incident; Aviators Safe​

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Assuming this wasn't a technical glitch, I assume someone is goin to lose command of their ship?

USS Gettysburg completed but not without problems

USS Gettysburg completed its modernization, including sea trials, in February 2023. The Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey [INSURV] determined the ship meets the minimum standard to get to sea. However, in January 2024 [INSURV] identified several outstanding issues during an inspection of the ship’s condition. For example, several elements of the weapons systems were inoperable or degraded and there were structural issues throughout the ship. Since the inspection, the Navy has addressed several of these issues and the ship completed 18 days at sea in June 2024 in preparation for deployment. During this time at sea, USS Gettysburg completed a successful missile launch and intercept using its updated combat systems software.

The Navy deployed USS Gettysburg in September 2024 with its carrier strike group. Prior to the deployment, the ship’s crew told us that parts continued to be a problem, including steering gears and hydraulic power unit solenoid valves, among others. To address this problem, the Navy used parts from the decommissioned cruisers. According to the ship’s crew, propulsion plant and electric system failures were key concerns for the USS Gettysburg deployment. Navy officials told us that future deployment plans for USS Gettysburg depend on how the ship does during its September 2024 deployment. However, the shipbuilding plan shows that the Navy plans to divest the ship in fiscal year 2026 after it completes its deployment.

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• Early 2023 modernization completed with updated combat systems software and weapons system elements (includes combat system) refurbished or replaced
• Early 2024 INSURV reports Aegis weapons system not fully operational
• June 2024 successful AAW missile launch and intercept of test range target
• mid 2024 ship's crew says HME failures are continuing key concerns
• Sep 2024 deployed to Red Sea
• Dec 2024 successful AAW missile launch and intercept of USN F-18

Throughout the USN (and other services) the military leadership continually seizes opportunities to gain combat medals no matter how inappropriate their particular weapon is to the combat situation or the readiness of their weapon and its crews for performing the combat mission. Vincennes, Porter, Fitzgerald, ... this list just added Gettysburg.

RobertC said:

USS Gettysburg completed

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but not without problems

• Early 2023 modernization completed with updated combat systems software and weapons system elements (includes combat system) refurbished or replaced
• Early 2024 INSURV reports Aegis weapons system not fully operational
• June 2024 successful AAW missile launch and intercept of test range target
• mid 2024 ship's crew says HME failures are continuing key concerns
• Sep 2024 deployed to Red Sea
• Dec 2024 successful AAW missile launch and intercept of USN F-18

Throughout the USN (and other services) the military leadership continually seizes opportunities to gain combat medals no matter how inappropriate their particular weapon is to the combat situation or the readiness of their weapon and its crews for performing the combat mission. Vincennes, Porter, Fitzgerald, ... this list just added Gettysburg.

Click to expand...

• Dec 2024 successful AAW missile launch and intercept of USN F-18

Do we not see a joke here?

RobertC said:

USS Gettysburg completed

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

but not without problems

• Early 2023 modernization completed with updated combat systems software and weapons system elements (includes combat system) refurbished or replaced
• Early 2024 INSURV reports Aegis weapons system not fully operational
• June 2024 successful AAW missile launch and intercept of test range target
• mid 2024 ship's crew says HME failures are continuing key concerns
• Sep 2024 deployed to Red Sea
• Dec 2024 successful AAW missile launch and intercept of USN F-18

Throughout the USN (and other services) the military leadership continually seizes opportunities to gain combat medals no matter how inappropriate their particular weapon is to the combat situation or the readiness of their weapon and its crews for performing the combat mission. Vincennes, Porter, Fitzgerald, ... this list just added Gettysburg.

Click to expand...

I know the situation is kind of bizarre, but I think it is important to remember that the airman of this F/A-18 Super Hornet likely had to eject into a pitch black ocean. I am not sure if I can imagine a more nightmare like scenario. Not only do you have freezing cold water, but you have almost no visibility outside of what was likely a burning F/A-18 plunging into the sea. I think it is very lucky that not only both people survived the initial impact, but were able to be rescued afterwards.

SlothmanAllen said:

I know the situation is kind of bizarre, but I think it is important to remember that the airman of this F/A-18 Super Hornet likely had to eject into a pitch black ocean. I am not sure if I can imagine a more nightmare like scenario. Not only do you have freezing cold water, but you have almost no visibility outside of what was likely a burning F/A-18 plunging into the sea. I think it is very lucky that not only both people survived the initial impact, but were able to be rescued afterwards.

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The water in the Red Sea shouldn’t be cold?

There are rumors F-18 was actually Yemeni shot down. Thoughts?