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

摘要

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.