Why not Sea King?
So why not fit the RAN Sea Kings with the proven demountable L3 AQS-18(v)-3D dipping sonar (L-3 Communications -> Products & Services -> AQS-18(V)-3) and make that aircraft do what it was supposed to be for initially? This sonar kit is in service worldwide on various helo types including SH-3 Sea King. Just put the compact gear down the back with the Observer/TacO (or whatever they are called these days) and a simple repeater monitor screen up front for the pilots (zero R&D necessary). Sea King should be pretty supportable for a while yet considering the numbers in service around the globe and the operating costs are about half of Seahawk ($45,317 per hour at 2007).
The next dubious merit megabuck spend will conceivably be the MH-60R/S (upwards of $2billion project cost) with operating costs perhaps higher than Seahawk and it is so stuffed full of systems and heavy that it will be virtually useless for boarding party roles. Better to consider what resources might be available from the scaling down of the British military and go for more Sea King to save the nation a lot of money.
The disastrous ADF helicopter rationalisation strategy emerged when Army Aviation headed the Helicopter Systems Division of the Defence Material Organisation. Navy now leads that outfit and has opportunity to correct some of the inferior planning and get back in the helo ASW game pretty quickly plus enhance multi-role capabilities with Sea King.
Last edited by Bushranger 71; 12th Jan 2011 at 21:13.