The max cruise speed of the SuperCobra is 190 knots/218mph (wiki) and Apache 197 knots/225mph,.. the max speed of the V-22 is 305 knots/351 mph so I see a gap in being able to escort V-22's at full speed into a hot LZ.
Would it be possible to convert some into a gunship varient?
Perhaps with
Option 1.
* M197 3-barreled 20 mm "Gatling-style" cannon in the A/A49E-7 turret (750 rounds ammo capacity)
* 2.75 in (70 mm) Hydra 70 rockets - Mounted in LAU-68C/A (7 shot) or LAU-61D/A (19 shot) launchers
* 5 in (127 mm) Zuni rockets - 8 rockets in two 4-round LAU-10D/A launchers
* TOW Missiles - Up to 8 missiles mounted in two-missile launchers on each hardpoint
* AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles - Up to 8 missiles mounted in two 4-round M272 missile launchers, one on each outboard hardpoint
* AIM-9 Sidewinder Anti-Aircraft Missiles - 1 mounted on each outboard hardpoint (total of 2)
Option 2.
# Guns: 1× 30 mm (1.18 in) GAU-8/A Avenger gatling cannon with 1,174 rounds
# * Rockets:
o 4× LAU-61/LAU-68 rocket pods (each with 19× / 7× Hydra 70 mm rockets, respectively)
o 4× LAU-5003 rocket pods (each with 19× CRV7 70 mm rockets)
o 6× LAU-10 rocket pods (each with 4× 127 mm (5.0 in) Zuni rockets)
Options 3.
* Guns: 1× 30x113 mm (1.18x4.45 in) M230 cannon, 1,200 rounds
* Rockets: Hydra 70 FFAR rockets
* Missiles: combination of AGM-114 Hellfire, AIM-92 Stinger, and AIM-9 Sidewinder
Imagine a gun ship that can provide CAS, engage enemy armour and defenses and then land its compliment of marines to hold the objective?
Thoughts? |