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Subject:
Best structure for modern air assets...
Iano
9/2/2005 6:21:59 AM
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| 150 approx Eurofighter as a fighter interceptor: primarily air to air using AMRAAM and ASRAAM, armed with gun, also able to perform limited ground attack/CAS using small diameter bomb. Can function as a SEAD or "Wild Weasel" aircraft using ALARM.
150 approx Tornado GR4 as a fighter bomber: primarily ground attack and anti shipping using BRIMSTONE, STORM SHADOW, PAVEWAY, HARPOON, 1000lb/540lb GP bombs. Cluster bombs and runway-cratering bombs to be brought back into service, also able to perform limited CAS/air to air with these weapons and ASRAAM. Can function as an electronic warfare aircraft with the addition of right modules.
150 approx STOVL F35 as an attack aircraft: primarily CAS and maritime strike, using CRV7 rocket pods, MAVERICK, 1000lb/540lb GP bombs, HARPOON and the addition of a big gun a la A10. Also able to perform limited fighter bomber duties with this ordnance and limited air to air with ASRAAM. Can function as a tactical recce aircraft with addition of right modules.
Sentry AWACs - addition of ASRAAM for self defence.
Nimrod MPA - addition of ability to drop SPEARFISH heavyweight torpedoes, and ASRAAM for self defence, in addition to STINGRAY and HARPOON.
ASTOR Sentinel - to support the land battle. Addition of ASRAAM for self defence.
Refuelling tankers - something more modern than VC10/Tristar perhaps. Armed with ASRAAM for self defence.
Cargo transporters - something more modern and with greater capacity than Herc, but still able to be used in tactical role ie: TALO, dropping paras etc. ASRAAM for self defence.
Some form of aerial photographic recce "spyplane" to replace Canberra for strategic recce.
Some form of EW & Sigint aircraft to gather information.
Long-range, large-capacity strategic bombers - just a few. They have proved very useful to the USAF. Can use STORM SHADOW or conventional bomb loads.
Some form of large helo like the Super sea stallion/Pave low. Only a few, they can be used for picking up of downed aircrew and deep SF insertion/extraction.
The RAF would also control the larger and more strategically useful UAVs used to provide information.
Army Aviation would take over support helos such as Merlin and Chinook, as well as continuing to operate helos like Lynx and Apache. They would also have battlefield UAVs in direct support of the land battle.
The Fleet Air Arm would continue to operate Merlin maritime patrol helos on frigates and carriers, and Lynx naval attack helos on OPVHs and destroyers (2). The idea of a helicopter carrying cruiser along Japanese DDH lines but upped to 10 000 tons should be explored, and helos would embark on other cruisers if built. A force of Merlin transport utility helos (just like the RAFs) needs to be procured to replace the commando Sea King junglies on the LPVs and LPDs. A force of Merlin ASaCs needs to be procured to replace Sea King ASaC on the CVS and CVFs, and likewise with a SAR Merlin. The RN needs to consider using tiltrotors for cargo carrier-onboard-delivery, and in-flight refuelling from the CVFs, and they also need to consider making use of technology in the form of sensor picket UAVs. A carrierbased smaller Maritime patrol aeroplane for detecting and attacking submarines and surface shipping, and a carrierbased Early warning aeroplane such as Hawkeye for AEW should be brought into service on CVFs. F35 should find itself in use as a strike aircraft, our naval multirole combat aircraft on which our airpower at sea most depends, capable in air to air, air to ground, CAS, EW, recce, SEAD, and of course air to ship, and perhaps ASW using a sonobuoy dispenser pod and lightweight torps. It should find itself employed in the STOVL version on CVSs and in the CTOL version on CVFs. The RN needs to be adequately supported by the RAF (Sentries, Nimrods, refuelling tankers, Eurofighters & Tornados for CAP and ASUW wherever possible, F35 attack aircraft for support of amphibious landings) and the AAC (use of specialised helos such as Chinook and Apache for support of amphibious landings). The FAA also needs to maintain a few additional aircraft and aircrew to replace losses and to enable the LPVs and other flattops like Ocean and Argus, and their replacements, to be used as semi aircraft carriers when push comes to shove.
Basically the FAA runs everything that flies from a ship, the AAC runs all battlefield helos & UAVs, and the RAF gets everything else, the "strategic air" mission.
Hows that sound?
Ian
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