Originally Posted by
Bismark
The fact is it doesn't matter that it is where it is. Te Army got what the RN were getting, no choice in the matter. The EO pod aids the aircrew in their search capability. In general, and given the detection range of the sensor, the aircraft will be heading towards the target (+_ 100deg). The 360 radar allows for a ground stabilised picture which makes life so much easier for the crew.
It must somewhat limit surveillance tactics though if they can only fly straight at a target. When flying surveillance on a fixed wing we would always stand off and circle a decoy target (another boat, or some other poacher's camp fire) while keeping the real target geo-locked on the MX15. We used sometimes to use it pointing down like a radar altimeter on VFR night approaches in Africa. I expect crews would find lots of other uses for it if it could point down - might be useful for winching for example, or perv-flying along the beach
