Marine Corps “Sling-Load” Transport an Inoperable Navy F-35C

by Kris Osborn,  President, Center for Military Modernization

Tactical vehicles such as Humvees and Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, M777 towed Howitzer artillery, weapons and ammunition and even some unmanned systems can all be “sling-loaded” and carried beneath US military helicopters and aircraft. This is a well-established tactical reality of great significance to the US military services, as a US Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter can, for example, vertically lift and transport combat critical supplies, platforms and weapons systems. 

What about an F-35? This is much less heard of or expected as an operational reality, yet the US Navy and Air Force have recently combined forces to demonstrate that indeed an inoperable F-35 can be air-transported beneath CH-53K heavy lift helicopter.

This was recently demonstrated by F-35 Integrated Test Force, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, wherein a Marine Corps CH-53K transported a Navy F-35C Lightning II from Pax River to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.  

“The inoperable airframe, without mission and propulsion systems, outer wings, or additional equipment, is being transported to the Prototype, Manufacturing and Test Department of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst for use in future emergency recovery systems testing,” a US Navy essay on the transport said. 

Tactical Advantages of Transporting an F-35

Beyond the initial operational concept of supporting manufacturing, testing, development or maintenance for an F-35C not able to fly, there are additional tactical advantages associated with an ability to vertically transport an F-35 airframe.  Should an F-35 be damaged or rendered inoperable by enemy fire, it may need to be quickly destroyed or removed from anywhere where an enemy might get to it.  A damaged F-35 could be recovered from a combat incident, transported from a ship to another vessel or land location where it can receive maintenance and necessary parts. 

 Perhaps a damaged F-35 needs to be removed from a combat zone, or perhaps a damaged F-35 needs a part which is not available on its host ship. In this case, an inoperable F-35 may need to be air lifted to a location where it can receive the necessary maintenance.