The STOVL Joint Strike Fighter -- From a Harrier Skeptic

Abstract : The STOVL Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is the correct aircraft to make our 21st Commandant's vision a reality and bring the Marine Corps into the 21st century. With the benefit of technology solving some of the problems that have plagued the AV-8 Harrier in the past, the STOVL JSF will bring the Marine Corps the benefits of flexibility and forward basing, decreased reaction time, increased payload to the battlefield, while increasing the effectiveness of the A in the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). However, for the Marine Corps to reap all the benefits of the STOVL JSF the Navy must support the Marine Corps' STOVL decision by allowing these aircraft on their carriers and modifying both LHA and LHD class ships with a bow ramp. If the Navy fails in their support for the Marine Corps' variant of the JSF, it will still be a success, but one that will never reach its full potential.