Undoubtedly Blackhawks are doing a superb job in Theatre, especially the ones that sit alongside us and the MERTs.
But they are not your average Blackhawk.
Although I can see why people may instantly throw their arms up when industry has made such a quick and substantial offer (and I am impressed), but if the posts are re-read above buying the hard ware is
not the issue. Where there is a political will, MoD/DEC ALM and IPTs will find a procurement way.
Unless Blackhawk was going to be a complete Foreign Military Sales that saw UK air and ground crews trained in the US to an LCR standard, with all of the spares and TLS included, with the UK modifications, with crews travelling across the pond to do the Simulator, then it would not be viable.
The long term cost of establishing another fleet and training/supply system, combined with a simulator etc would be cost prohibitive and I believe would not deliver an increase in lift for a number of years yet.
The same goes for a WG30
or Wessex
or Mi17, or AW 139/149 or NH 90 or any other new airframe that would require a completely new system (training, logisitics, TLS etc).
This is why although I understand, but not necessarily agree, with the Puma LEP as the first step to ensure a disc and foot print that is smaller than the CH47/Merlin in the UK inventory.
If we really do want to rapidly increase lift within 18-24 months I believe that as soon as the Merlin and Lynx T800 arrive in theatre, then the majority of the Commando Sea Kings (or all of the Commando Sea Kings if some of the specialist roles are handed over to the re-fitted SKASaCs/or re-fitted Lynx T800).
By next Autumn Sea King crews could be using every bit of spare training capacity in the UK Merlin and/or CH47 training pipeline ready to take on the 8 HC3s or the new CH47s (hopefully F fatboys) that have been procured by some true international smart procurement by DEC ALM/IPTs. If there is not space in the UK training system and a surge is not possible, then off to the states they go for a conversion and conduct a differences course/CR on return.
1 CH47 equals approximately 3 Commando Sea Kings - now that is a quick win and if a one for one exchange of aircraft was conducted as a crew came off the training pipeline, the tranistion of Commando Sea King crews alone over a 24 month period would see a significant increase of lift.
If everyone gets a move on and actually makes a decision, I believe that there could be the first re-roled Commando Sea King crews flying CH47 in theatre next summer.
In comparison to the other types suggested this option is sustainable with the complete system in place. It will just need significant expansion.