Poiuytrewq wrote: ↑03 Mar 2024, 11:29
SW1 wrote: ↑03 Mar 2024, 10:30
Your industrial strategy is to retain the design integration, manufacture test skills in rotorcraft industry…..Aerospace is an expensive business but you get better outcomes if you keep the design integration and test in country .
It’s highly unlikely the NMH contract will be awarded before the GE so there is still time to crystallise a longer term strategy before SDSR2025.
• Maximising Chinook numbers makes sense provided the costs remain sensible.
• Transferring all Wildcat across to RN makes sense as the Army never wanted them and RN will need them if the surface fleet is to grow.
• The Merlin’s are going to give great service to RN so no need for any changes there.
• The Puma (and Wildcat) replacements are the only area that needs a rethink. It’s not clear that any of the options on the table are suitable for a universal airframe to form the foundation of a multi tranche procurement strategy going forward.
Therefore without a viable alternative, is groping around for a long term industrial strategy based upon an airframe that doesn’t currently exist just more unnecessary procrastination?
As ever we are in sync mate. Absolutely agree with Army Wildcat, it's a pointless asset for the AAC and a graphic example of SW1's industrial strategy "to retain the design integration, manufacture test skills in rotorcraft industry".
The above strategy drove the design and procument of the Wildcat, a helicopter resisted by the Army, but politically forced upon them at huge expense.
Army Wildcat is neither fish nor foul, not really equipped to do anything bar cost a lot of money to retain and operate.....
It's an example of how politically driven procument just throws money away on equipment that tends to be extremely expensive and often no better than what's already available at considerably less cost.
Absolutely agree, get rid of Army Wildcat, I would however transfer an additional 15 to the RN for naval rework and sell 19 off on the international market, in an attempt to kickstart exports...
I would then buy 80 odd Blackhawks, split between the RAF and Army, I would consider refurbished ex US army examples, re built to Romeo configuration and zero houred for 20 years of service.
If you wish to consider an industrial strategy, the work to be carried out in the UK, alongside a UK partner, with this facility providing subsequent in service support, repair, overhaul and upgrade.
Nothing to stop Leonardo from putting in a bid for this, or any other aviation engineering company.
Marshalls for example....
That way you retain the ability to overhaul repair and upgrade helicopters in the UK.
The design element of the individual strategy is dead and buried anyway, Wildcat was the final UK design helicopter, everything since , i.e the perspective AW149, is 100% Italian, I can't understand why they keep pushing it as British......
