F/Lynx all systems go at AW
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I hear that MOD has today, made a decision to change the name of this new aircraft. It will no longer be the Wildcat, but henceforth will be known as the Munter!
It's been renamed S.H.I.T. Mk 1 = Small Helicopter Incapable of Transportation!
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Yep the clue is in the names Army Helicopter and Helicopter Maritime Attack - don't see any mention of transport in there. Whilst an important secondary role it isn't a key capability and not what the aircraft is focused around.
So what particular role is this fabulous new Army Helicopter going to perfrom then?
Probably the same ones as the Lynx is doing now.
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No Sensors?
EO/Visual turret with operator in the loop. RWR. Radar if Army so wish it. Nope no sensors!
No weapons?
M3M and GPMG from cabin door positions and Wildcat Army version will be able to use the Light version of FASGW.
Nope no weapons!
Armed Attack?
Is that not the job of the mighty, might WAH? My impression was that the Wildcat found it and the Apache killed it.
Nope no Armed attack role just as the customer directed!
Limited movement of men and material?
I refer you to the customer direction again.
Wildcat is not an SH or an AH, it was never ever intended to be so. Just an agile ISTAR platform that could operate as a battlefield taxi for the General. If it was an SH then the RAF would have had it and the Army would have nothing.
EO/Visual turret with operator in the loop. RWR. Radar if Army so wish it. Nope no sensors!
No weapons?
M3M and GPMG from cabin door positions and Wildcat Army version will be able to use the Light version of FASGW.
Nope no weapons!
Armed Attack?
Is that not the job of the mighty, might WAH? My impression was that the Wildcat found it and the Apache killed it.
Nope no Armed attack role just as the customer directed!
Limited movement of men and material?
I refer you to the customer direction again.
Wildcat is not an SH or an AH, it was never ever intended to be so. Just an agile ISTAR platform that could operate as a battlefield taxi for the General. If it was an SH then the RAF would have had it and the Army would have nothing.
Funky Munky - 'back one, steady' - my post was meant to highlight that the present Lynx doesn't perform any of those roles
However, we have more ISTAR assets than you can shake a stick at and the WAH can find its own targets quite capably.
The Mk7 Lynx had an EO turret with the TOWTI fitted (now removed) and an operator in the loop (co-pilot/AC Comd) and every battlefield helicopter has RWR fitted and most can have a .50 machine gun mounted. The Wildcat doesn't bring anything new to the party except crashworthy seats!
However, we have more ISTAR assets than you can shake a stick at and the WAH can find its own targets quite capably.
The Mk7 Lynx had an EO turret with the TOWTI fitted (now removed) and an operator in the loop (co-pilot/AC Comd) and every battlefield helicopter has RWR fitted and most can have a .50 machine gun mounted. The Wildcat doesn't bring anything new to the party except crashworthy seats!
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Crab,
Er, it keeps the AAC in aviation as without it the RAF or RN would have made a strong case to take over Apache as the AAC would have been unsustainable with just Apache. The only reason you are getting a replacement for your obsolete Lynx is on the back of the RN's very strong case for Wildcat, MOD was not prepared to give you a different type of helo so it was "take it or leave it".
Sad but true.
The Wildcat doesn't bring anything new to the party except crashworthy seats!
Sad but true.
Crab, you know as well as anyone that we have a shortage of Battlefield helo's and though the "Wildcat" isn't the ideal platform it will still have its uses.
Why send a Chinook, Merlin SK or Puma if you can use a smaller cab?
You can never have enough IStar platforms.
Why send a Chinook, Merlin SK or Puma if you can use a smaller cab?
You can never have enough IStar platforms.
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Always amazed at the number of folk so keen to knock something that hasn't even been tactically developed yet and make up their minds on the basis of little first hand involvement.
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Always amazed at the number of folk so keen to knock something that hasn't even been tactically developed yet and make up their minds on the basis of little first hand involvement.
So what massive difference is the Wildcat going to bring to the party?
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The Wildcat doesn't bring anything new to the party except crashworthy seats!
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Several posters on this page would appear to have missed the point in answering, or not as the case may be, the query - 'why do we need 9A and Wildcat?'
Point One Wildcat and 9A will have the urge and increased lift to contribute 365 days of the year in AFG or anywhere else in the world 'subsequent ops' take us.
Pint Two Wildcat and 9A will have .50 cal door guns, as I understand it and can provide good top cover for convoys. Plus in Wilcat a great EO sight, no need to expand here on the benefits that will bring.
Point Three, this will save scarce Apache hours for when they are needed
Point Four for air commanders and planners to have another type of club in the bag gives greater flexibility in planning and execution instead of providing over capacity
LB
Point One Wildcat and 9A will have the urge and increased lift to contribute 365 days of the year in AFG or anywhere else in the world 'subsequent ops' take us.
Pint Two Wildcat and 9A will have .50 cal door guns, as I understand it and can provide good top cover for convoys. Plus in Wilcat a great EO sight, no need to expand here on the benefits that will bring.
Point Three, this will save scarce Apache hours for when they are needed
Point Four for air commanders and planners to have another type of club in the bag gives greater flexibility in planning and execution instead of providing over capacity
LB
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Alouette III
I just thought this clip with some small snippets about the use of a light helicopter in COIN might be interesting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRd_v...om=PL&index=28
This link has a bit more explanation:
FIREFORCE OPERATIONS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRd_v...om=PL&index=28
This link has a bit more explanation:
FIREFORCE OPERATIONS
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We have bought more Lynx!!! Just faster, better equipped, more versatile, able to 'up-arm’, 365 capability, very versatile C2 capability, better crew survivability, greater RADAR ability, less prescriptive maintenance regime, 'possible' cross arm capability - but yes - it does have a new name to hide all these benefits. It will save hard pressed assets being miss-employed (the CH's love being tasked as convoy escort or on route recce) and allow commanders to have the correct asset in the right place for a longer time.
I guess this is why it seems so hard for the blinkered few to see the big picture, try looking over your oh so petty bias and accept that it is here for a very good reason and if it was pointless, we would have got rid 30+ years ago.
A debate on the pointless upgrade of an older aircraft would be better? But not on this thread!!!!
I guess this is why it seems so hard for the blinkered few to see the big picture, try looking over your oh so petty bias and accept that it is here for a very good reason and if it was pointless, we would have got rid 30+ years ago.
A debate on the pointless upgrade of an older aircraft would be better? But not on this thread!!!!
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Following on from the Fireforce refresher, I wonder whether they could put something like the GSh-30-2 twin fixed forward firing cannon from the Hind P on the nose of the Wildcat to give it a 'point and shoot' heavy capability.
Bolt Hellfire onto some stubby wings / pylons with a CVR 7 or two, perhaps AIM9 over the wings together with a door mounted Gimpy or M3M and hey ho - fairly hard mini-gunship a la K-Car.
Bolt Hellfire onto some stubby wings / pylons with a CVR 7 or two, perhaps AIM9 over the wings together with a door mounted Gimpy or M3M and hey ho - fairly hard mini-gunship a la K-Car.