In a related article, in Telegraph, a (retired) Captain Tom Sharpe offered this up after discussing the attack on M/V Huang Pu
On 20 March a
French Navy helicopter was directed onto a Samad drone and engaged it successfully with gunfire. Given that the two aircraft have comparable top speeds, this is a remarkable piece of airmanship and then marksmanship. Not to be outdone, German frigate Hessen’s Lynx helicopter armed with a .50 cal machine gun did the same a few days later. Speaking as a former warship captain, anything that adds layers and improves the stand-off distance at which enemy weapons can be knocked down is to be welcomed – as is anything that allows you to keep back precious missiles to use against faster, more difficult cruise or ballistic missiles. As a method though, this should not be relied upon. Small helicopters flown from frigates and destroyers have short legs, particularly in the heat, and can only fly for so many hours in a day before rest and maintenance become obligatory. You would also have to be very quick to get one launched in response to an incoming drone, whilst the act of launching makes you less manoeuvrable at a time when you want your moves the most. It also makes you more vulnerable if there is a follow-on missile attack. But if the aircraft are up already, and the ships are sharp, then this is a remarkable development.
Nobody would have foreseen the use of humble helicopters as air-to-air interceptors.
Actually, we foresaw it about 40 years ago. (FWIW out at MAWTS they had hung Sidewinders on Cobras well before that).
We were patrolling the Eastern Med a bit after the suicide bomb barracks attacks in Lebanon. We had a variety of things to go out and look for on a daily basis.
One of the threats we trained for was the small, light commercial aircraft (think Cessna or similar) non-squawker. Tight RoE.
The SH-2F could comfortably run about at 135 knots. Our ASAC/Controller ran a variety of intercept exercises with us on known fixed wing air contacts, and any number of unknowns. (He used to be on an AAW ship, so we were his "slow Tomcat"
)
We sometimes used friendly helicopters who would pose as the non-squawker light aircraft. (Assumed suicide attackers).
Not sure about Captain Sharpe's lack of imagination, but we didn't share it. (We had a few things to sort out as regards mounting an M-60 in the SH-2F's door area ...that's a while back)
In the early 90's I added these kinds of drills on my SH-60B detachment. On the bright side, how to mount an M-60 to an SH-60B had already been sorted out in the Persian Guld in the 80's, although much of that was in aid of anti-mine warfare.
People have been using helicopters for Air to Air from the backs of ships for a bit longer than Captain Sharp imagines.
Also: tip-of-the cap to the German and French aircrews who got the drones. Well done.
