” Eight irreplaceable aircraft (the
AV-8B has been out of production
since 1999) have been destroyed or
put out of action – approximately 7
percent of the total flying USMC
Harrier fleet. Worse yet, the
aircraft involved were the AV-B+
variant equipped with the APG-65
radar and AAQ-28 Litening II
targeting pods – the most capable in the force. Given the current funding situation, it’s likely that the two damaged AV-8Bs will become spare parts “hangar queens” and never fly again. A.Harrier squadron commander is dead, along with another Marine. Another nine personnel have been wounded, and the nearby Marines at Camp Freedom are now without
effective fixed-wing air support.
The USMC’s response to this
disaster will be a telling report
card on its leadership and
organizational agility.”
HT/Instapundit
