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Subject:
Lower cost alternative
ambush
11/23/2004 10:24:03 PM
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It is acknowledged that not every country can afford a Carrier Strike Group based on the Nimitz class carriers, like the US can. Even the mid-sized carries of the UK and France may make this out of reach for many countries particularly when you factor in the cost of high performance aircraft.
I have come up with what I believe is a low cost alternative that would give you a Naval aviation capability that would mount a credible Naval Air Capability.
The costs I give are only approximations as it could vary with number of units orderd.
A Nimitz class Carrier costs for $ 4.5 Billion with 80 aircraft at $3.6 billion if you figure median aircraft cost of about $45 million each.
You can reduce that cost a little if you go for a medium sized carrier like the British are building which will be about $2.5 billion each and will have fewer but still high cost aircraft such as the F-35.
My lower cost alternative, which no doubt many will find fault with, but is just a suggestion is the following as is the equipment chosen
Your new carrier be base on the LHD Wasp Class amphibious assault ship. The ship if converted to a pure carrier role will have a larger internal volume. You can convert the Vehicle storage deck and well deck into hanger and storage space. Troop spaces could be converted to needed electronics and control spaces for the biggest cost saving measure on our new Carrier control of the UAVs.
Since we are still doing this on the cheap our choice of manned Aircraft is about 24 AV-8B Harrier II plus (about $25 million each) with the JHC system and AIM ?9X and AIM -120 for Air Defense mode and everything from dumb bombs to Anti ship missiles for surface attack. But that is not all there as there is space for about another 30 to 40 (If not more)UCAVs either assembled or stored partially unassembled. The two main UCAVS of choice will be the Predator and the Dark Star. The wing span of these UCAVs permit them to be used on our flight deck. However they will need some modifications. There take of run is tool long for our flight deck of about 840 feet so they will need to be modified to accept JATO to shorten their take of roll as well as a ski ramp on the ship. Recovery can be with arresting nets. Also or UAVS wil need folding wings
The Predator UCAVs will be capable of carrying Hellfire missiles. The Dark Star UAVs will be also be the ships AWECs . The Dark Star can be equipped with a variety of sensor pallets and there is no reason why a limited air search radar version is not possible. Granted it will not be as effective as an E-2 Hawkeye but if you figure if you get 4-6 Dark Stars in the air with its 8 hour endurance it will give you OK coverage. Figure UCAVS with modifications will cost between $5 million and $15 million median cost at $7.5 million each.
The major problems I see with the design is possibly with the sortie rate for the UCAVS due to their launch and recovery methods but proper prior planning should make up for that.
Carrier of $1.5 billion, $600 million for Harriers and $245 million for UCAVS
Total $2.3 billion
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