If I may be forgiven for quoting myself and snipping my previous post, so as to concentrate on ASW:
Originally Posted by
WE Branch Fanatic
Here is a far more recent story:
Aircraft Carriers Underpin Royal Navy Plans To Use UAS To Help Build Maritime Mass - Naval News- a fixed-wing UAS to replace the carrier-borne, Merlin helicopter-based Crowsnest airborne early warning (AEW) system, which is due to retire at the end of the decade
Removing Crowsnest from Merlin will have the effect of increasing the number of ASW Merlins, as those aircraft will be able to return to their original role, which is desperately needed - remember ASW is a carrier role. Some of you may have noted that the main conclusions over on the 1977 US Congress Report: The US Sea Control Mission (carriers needed in the Atlantic for Air Defence and ASW - due to Maths/Physics/Geography) discussion have been refined to better explain things:
Constant ASW helicopter operations are best supported by a large deck with multiple helicopters, as collocating them simplifies coordination, communications, and maintenance and support. Physics also shows that modern long range sonars fitted to ASW warships need to be used in conjunction with dipping sonar to achieve their potential - andvice versa. As with all such detection systems (radar/sonar/optical) there is trade off between range and resolution. The long range sonar provides long range detection, and the dipping sonar provides pinpoint accuracy.
According to the
UK Defence Journal - the RN is looking into a long range shipborne ASW weapon.
Royal Navy seeks Long Range Anti-sub Weapon for Type 26
The Ministry of Defence has issued a pre-procurement notice seeking information from industry regarding a future Long Range Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Weapon (LRAW).
Specifically, the Royal Navy is seeking solutions for a Long Range Anti-Submarine Warfare weapon that can deploy Lightweight Torpedoes from Mk41 Vertical Launch System-fitted Type 26 Frigates...
Some may think that this weapon would remove the need for helicopters - but it does not. The frigate can detect submarines as long range with low frequency towed array sonar, but without sufficient accuracy do direct a torpedo attack, which is why the ASW frigate is team with dipping sonar equipped helicopters who can pinpoint the target. I remember an old (and mostly out of date when I got it from the careers office) booklet about RN Engineer Officers that featured stories from several ME Officers, a pair of WE Officers, and a couple of AE Officers - all back in the late 1970s I think. One of the WE Officers was telling a tale of a test firing of Ikara- and the diagram showed the target submarine being located by a Sea King in the dip. The diagram was meant to be of a typical Ikara engagement. This was before the days of the long range sonar with the usual trade off between range and resolution.