Uploaded May 24, 2026 by Modern Great Game (MGG) Geopolitics.
Chapters:
00:00 US Force Posture
00:45 Australia's New Position
01:42 MV-22 Osprey
02:37 Eyes Over Australia
03:27 Townsville JTDC
04:33 USS Miguel Keith
05:42 SPMAGTF
06:50 Australia's Balancing Act
For the first time, Australia has been formally written into the Pacific region of the US Marine Corps' (USMC) global prepositioning network, alongside the Philippines and Palau (a presidential republic in free association with the US). These developments represent an evolution (rather than a revolution) in how America uses Australian territory, and what Australia's role in any Indo-Pacific contingency now looks like.
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The 90,000 tonne USS Miguel Keith expeditionary sea base (ESB-5) (Photo courtesy USN's Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Hector Carrera). This vessel is far larger than any helicopter carrier worldwide. The US military doesn't do things by halves!
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USMC MV-22 Ospreys are now permanently stored on Australian soil between rotations. US Marines deployed from Darwin, Australia's Northern Territory directly into the Philippine Sea aboard the huge helicopter/Osprey carrier the 90,000 tonne USMC's USS Miguel Keith expeditionary sea base (ESB-5) (see photo above). This is the first time in the Darwin rotation's history. A "Joint Theater Distribution Center" in Townsville, Queensland, sustains a logistics chain stretching from Australia's north to the First Island Chain.
RC-135V/W Rivet Joint (photo above courtesy Balon Greyjoy via wikimedia commons) signals intelligence aircraft are now conducting operations from Australian airfields. RC-135 Rivet Joint first deployment was to RAAF Edinburgh, Adelaide, South Australia during Talisman Sabre 2025 US Air Force. Permanent RC-135 basing is at 55th Wing / Offutt AFB Omaha, Nebraska).
USS Miguel Keith cannot carry any F-35Bs yet.
ReplyDeleteComments below https://news.usni.org/2024/05/15/esb-miguel-keith-drills-with-japan-maritime-self-defense-force-royal-new-zealand-air-force-in-east-china-sea advise:
The ESB vessel's flight deck only supports helicopters and tiltrotors as the ESBs do not have the aviation, lighting and signaling, and air traffic control facilities built in to accommodate the USMC’s F-35B vertical takeoff and landing stealth fighter
ESBs can receive a mostly empty F-35B, primarily for an emergency landing or at fuel bingo when a nearby LHA/LHD has a crowded or fouled deck, but won’t be launching armed sorties for literally anything.
F-35Bs can’t conduct short rolling takeoffs on those ships, which means any vertical launch would limit the aircraft to 5,000-7,000 pounds of combined fuel and ordnance. Internal tanks hold over 13,000 pounds, so it’s already a short-fueled compromised flight before ordnance is loaded.
We’re talking two bombs and a radius under 100 miles, maybe 50, putting the ship at risk. If that’s the maximum punch and distance, it’s not worth a deployment. No mission flexibility whatsoever. It’s a fanboy vaporware wet dream (“I’ll bet we can do it!”), not reality and won’t be deployed. A waste of the most expensive variant.
Further:
ReplyDeleteAn F-35B isn't operationally VTOL, its STOVL and the required STO length is 600 ft. for a useful combat load. TO run + aircraft length+ margin of error + jet blast zone adds up to over 700' There isn't enough available length on an ESB hull for a functional F-35 deck because of this thing called a superstructure.
The F-35B was designed for the 800+ foot decks of the LHDs. 750' is about the minimum. An ESB has only about 600' max. The ship would need a complete redesign, which defeats the purpose of using a tanker hull and a cheap deck/hanger add on. The only reason Congress is paying for these ships: they are relatively cheap to meet a need. Your imaginary ESB/LHA hybrid wont be cheap and wont meet any need.
Notice - Cavour 800'+- Juan carlos 760'+- Izumo 800'+-
And none of them have a rear superstructure.
And the F-35B is the only option as USMC Harriers are gone in 2 years.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg of the bad about that idea.
A ski-jump maybe the only way to takeoff on a shortened deck.
Hi Pete,
ReplyDeleteThis isn't much of a strategic effect, as Australia has been in the nuclear crosshairs of Russia and China since before Pine Gap, with the Exmoth naval station for VLF comms with US SSNs in the Indian Ocean.
Cheers,
Shawn
Hi Shawn
ReplyDeleteYes, to an extent, it looks like a bit of PR news about the Aus-US alliance.
This is perhaps to balance mostly bad news of Trump's poor relations with all allies except US-Israel and now improved US relations with Russia.
Also the delayed by a decade delivery of Virginias (2043) under AUKUS needs to be politically anticipated.
Regards Pete