Let's face it - the Marines blew their Air Wing budget on the F-35B, MV-22, and H-1 upgrade when they otherwise could have bought tried and true, off the shelf F/A-18F, MH-60S, and AH-64D's.

The US Navy has proven that the F/A-18F can replace legacy Hornets, the MH-60S works just fine  replacing CH-46D's off LHD's with their Army like aft tail wheels, and the British proved over Libya that yes, indeed you can operated AH-64D's off sea going flights decks with no problem.

The US Marine Corps needs to be realistic and do the fiscally prudent thing and just like the US Navy, replace their EA-6B's with EA-18G's.

Boeing's Growler Takes Aim at Lockheed Martin's F-35 

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/04/19/boeings-growler-takes-aim-at-lockheed-martins-f-35.aspx