weapons etc
so if my boys book of 'planes is right, the P-8A comes with:
High-Altitude Antisubmarine Weapon Capability
Multi-static active coherent acoustic capability
Maritime surveillance radar
Signal intelligence system
Magnetic anomaly detection system
Electro-optical and infrared sensor turret
Mark 54 lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes (fitted with wing kits)
Free-fall bombs
Depth charges
Mines
Harpoon anti-ship missiles
SLAM or AGM-65 Maverick land attack missiles
AIM-9 Sidewinders or AIM-120 AMRAAMs.
That's quite a list ...
... would we add to that stuff we already have?
like:
Stingray Torpedo
Mark 11 depth bombs (for shallow water ops)
Stonefish mine
(are they comparable with the US Navy weapons?)
Enhanced Paveway IV LGB & Litening Pod (in the place of the USN Free-fall bombs)
Storm Shadow - we have it - and we used to have Harpoon.
I know it rather rattled some Airships to see a mock-up four Storm Shadow's on a 'N' MRA Mark 4 but what else are we going to have in 20 years time with the range? (Cue the inevitable 'Drone' response)
A sensor suite worth considering might be;
A high altitude long range real time reconnaissance system. Perhaps a development of ‘Rapid Deployment Electro-Optical System’(RADEOS). With the ability to work alongside a long range Synthetic Aperture mapping radar with MTI capability. To give the ability to detect, classify and identify potential targets at range.
We have all this too ...
Now I'm not suggesting this should, or could happen all at once, when we get the capability back it will have to be re-introduced one step at a time.
As experience grows so could capability.
An aircraft with range and the ability to deliver real-time reconnaissance and weapons effect is a valuable asset with growth potential.
What d'you think?
Last edited by HAS59; 28th Oct 2014 at 14:13.