It seems, on paper, that the Guardian has the ability to cover the peacetime ASUW aspect of an LRMPA, I suspect, however, that should the contacts need to be attacked, a second weapons carrying platform may be needed.
But in order to see whether UAVs can undertake the ASW aspect of Maritime Patrol, I have a question for the UAV specialists:
How many UAVs would be needed to provide 24 hour coverage in a 'Choke Point' North of the UK.
Only current UAV platforms modified with current technologies are invited to tender.
Conditions:
1. They would need to carry enough active and passive sonobuoys (approx 200 for 6 hours onsta) to search, localise, track and attack a low range submerged target doing a transit speed. The smallest currently available passive sonobuoys are G size:
Dimensions..............................................16.5 0 in (419 mm) long by
4.875 in (124 mm) diameter
Weight ............................................................ ....... 11.22 lbs (5.1 kg)
The currently available most used active sonobuoys are A size, twice the length of the G size:
Weight ............................................................ ........ 16.4 kg (36 lbs)
2. Must have a Radar with a periscope detection capability. (A Maritime Radar pod is shown in one of LJ's photos - takes up one wing station.)
3. MAD is needed to refine the attack criteria. (or some other 'Top Secret'
method of providing accurate positional information.)
4. A suitable weapon needs to be carried, if a one shot - one kill weapon is not available, then multiple weapons need to be carried.
The UAVs can be based at any current airfield and must be able to operate high or low level in North Atlantic weather conditions.
It would take 3 or 4 currently in service (Not UK obviously) LRMPA platforms, I'm sure the Nimrod MK4 program workers could furnish the numbers needed to achieve this task, I suspect it would only have needed 2.