Aircraft Carriers III

The 'Baseline' air group for the QECs is planned to be 12 F-35Bs, 6 Merlin HM2s for ASW and three to four Merlin HM2 (Crowsnest) for AEW. This leaves a lot of space on board for other squadrons and types to be deployed, including another two F-35B sqns (bringing the total to 36 Lightnings); alternatively a sqn of RAF Chinooks and a sqn of FAA Merlin HC4s when deployed as hybrid CVA/LPH. Lynx Wildcats are also expected to be deployed from the ships, as well as Army Air Corps AH-64D Apaches as required.

Obi Wan Russell said:

View attachment 32619 View attachment 32620 View attachment 32621 The 'Baseline' air group for the QECs is planned to be 12 F-35Bs, 6 Merlin HM2s for ASW and three to four Merlin HM2 (Crowsnest) for AEW. This leaves a lot of space on board for other squadrons and types to be deployed, including another two F-35B sqns (bringing the total to 36 Lightnings); alternatively a sqn of RAF Chinooks and a sqn of FAA Merlin HC4s when deployed as hybrid CVA/LPH. Lynx Wildcats are also expected to be deployed from the ships, as well as Army Air Corps AH-64D Apaches as required.

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Thank you Obi nice stuff ! but i have read in surge QE can host up to 50 - 60 aircrafts ? and i usualy possible 72 sorties a day and max 110 you confirm

Waouw, my new wallpapers, hehe

Other angle and 2 Panther miss only the Alouette III
Jeff Head save first time NH-90NFH aboard

FORBIN said:

Thank you Obi nice stuff ! but i have read in surge QE can host up to 50 - 60 aircrafts ? and i usualy possible 72 sorties a day and max 110 you confirm

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High sortie rate is based on high availability of airframes, something the F-35 was designed from from day one to do. During the cold war US super carriers operated with air wings of about 90 aircraft, but that was because they sailed in overload conditions, with a permanent deck park, effectively in a 'surge' condition because if war broke out there would be no time to reinforce the air group from home bases. These days they operate with air wings of around 60 aircraft but retain the ability to 'surge' more if needed. The QECs are of a size that they can certainly embark and operate more aircraft if needed to, but the expectation in the required sortie rate can be met with a smaller number of planes than in previous generations.

Obi Wan Russell said:

Project CROWSNEST (quite apt for shipboard AEW?) will involve fitting upgraded Searchwater radars (based on those used by the current Sea King ASaC7s of 849NAS) to Merlin HM2s, in fact the system will be modular and can be installed on any of the HM2 fleet as required, presumably to simplify fleet maintenance. 849NAS will operate the aircraft allocated to AEW on the new carriers. The current Sea Kings have been extended beyond the planned OSD of 2016 for at least a couple of years to maintain the capability until the new Merlins are ready, but are unlikely to deploy aboard 'Big Liz' themselves.

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@bd popeye @Obi Wan Russell

I believe that the US and the UK and others should put an all-out effort into developing a pressurized cabin version of the MV-22 to carry as powerful an AEW package tino the air for these carriers (and any other LHA, :HA< LPD< LHP, Sea Control Carrier, etc) as possible.

Have it carry something that is 75% of an E-2C up to 35,000+ feet and you will have a very credible and critical asset for these vessels that would out perform any helicopter solution IMHO.

Bothj in terms of capability, time on station, altitude, ability to modernize and upscale, etc., etc.

IMHO, that is what they should be doing...and in fact should have started doing it years ago.

No need for vertical take off...have it get a running start either off a ski-jump, or even a flat deck like the USS America.

Jeff Head said:

@bd popeye @Obi Wan Russell

I believe that the US and the UK and others should put an all-out effort into developing a pressurized cabin version of the MV-22 to carry as powerful an AEW package tino the air for these carriers (and any other LHA, :HA< LPD< LHP, Sea Control Carrier, etc) as possible.

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Bell proposed it to Royal Navy in early 2000s.
It lost to crownsnest.

Gloire_bb said:

Bell proposed it to Royal Navy in early 2000s.

It lost to crownsnest.

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Understood.

But I believe the last 12+ years have made a HUGE difference in how the Osprey itself is viewed.

And I know it would have superior characteristics.

Jeff Head said:

@bd popeye @Obi Wan Russell

I believe that the US and the UK and others should put an all-out effort into developing a pressurized cabin version of the MV-22 to carry as powerful an AEW package tino the air for these carriers (and any other LHA, :HA< LPD< LHP, Sea Control Carrier, etc) as possible.

Have it carry something that is 75% of an E-2C up to 35,000+ feet and you will have a very credible and critical asset for these vessels that would out perform any helicopter solution IMHO.

Bothj in terms of capability, time on station, altitude, ability to modernize and upscale, etc., etc.

IMHO, that is what they should be doing...and in fact should have started doing it years ago.

No need for vertical take off...have it get a running start either off a ski-jump, or even a flat deck like the USS America.

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I agree. Pretty sure the Navy want this too, but it's all about the money. The RN had to fight long and hard just to retain the existing AEW capability through Crowsnest, as the current inept bumblers in Government were willing to allow yet another 'Capability Gap' between the original Sea King OSD and the projected in service date of whatever version of Crowsnest they eventually decided on (and the government to let it slide ever further into the future...). I am so pleased Gideon Osbourne got the Spanish Archer from Government as he will go down in history as one of the most inept Chancellors this country has ever suffered under. Sadly he was just the tip of the iceberg as regards our politicians, they as a species just don't 'get' Defence. To them it's all an unnecessary waste of money better spent on pointless schemes to bribe voters to forget their past mistakes and vote them in again.

Obi Wan Russell said:

I agree.

I am so pleased Gideon Osbourne got the Spanish Archer from Government as he will go down in history as one of the most inept Chancellors this country has ever suffered under. Sadly he was just the tip of the iceberg as regards our politicians, they as a species just don't 'get' Defence. To them it's all an unnecessary waste of money better spent on pointless schemes to bribe voters to forget their past mistakes and vote them in again.

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Amen...it is a malady that knows no bounds...the Atlantic Ocean (or any other for that matter) is not wide enough to halt its spread.

Only the people can do that...in their won countries.

God grant that we will.

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