Bushranger 71 wrote: There are multiple reasons why it would be wise to upgrade all the Iroquois to Huey II or even just leave them stored until the serious operational limitations and cost penalties of the envisaged new ADF helo fleet become glaringly obvious.
Good call BD, that would be the way to go, bearing in mind the ADF's poor record of trying to take the Rolls-Royce solution.
Of the current 6 CH-47D (remembering 4 are recycled CH-47Cs from 12 SQN), 2 are in-theatre, 2 probably typically in DM, leaving 1 out of 2 serviceable on the flight line.
With the 7 CH-47F, these figures will improve slightly, but doubt we would ever deploy 4. Fairly pathetic numbers. I don't know if there is an opening to recycle the 6 Ds to F standard, but 13 aircraft would make a viable force. In the meantime, we are playing at capability.
MRH - ok they can carry more troops than a UH-60 (S-70) and further. Certainly a plus. But were they fully militarised for war? And what does our major coalition partner fly? Our requirement for an MRH has changed I would suggest since the original spec was released (around 1998?), but MRH is not flying, and it is doubtful whether it would be deployed to theatre.
ARH - similar sad story. When will it see IOC? We should have picked Apache (did not need Longbow). The Tiger's engines were always under question for H&H performance. Another orphan, which may never be suitable to deploy.
Upgraded Huey IIs from our surviving Hotels would make strategic and logistical sense, as also may upgrading Kiowas for retention in the training role.