Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

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AndyC
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Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by AndyC »

The UK’s helicopter fleet has seen the harshest level of cuts since SDSR10 with frontline helicopter numbers nearly halved from 515 in 2010 to under 300 by 2020.

However, investment in the remaining fleet has been high with most helicopters either just recently, or about to be, modernised such as the AH-64E Apache, Merlin HM2/HC4, Chinook HC5/HC6A and Puma HC2. There are also new aircraft such as the Wildcat AH1/HMA2, Chinook HC6 and Watchkeeper UAV.

1 Aviation Brigade

Force comparisons with Russia illustrate that the most significant inferiority of European NATO forces is in the quantity of armoured vehicles. It is therefore essential that the Integrated Defence Review should examine ways to increase the effectiveness of its anti-armour capabilities. For 1 Aviation Brigade the cornerstone of these improvements is an upgraded Apache AH2 attack helicopter armed with up to sixteen Brimstone 3B anti-armour missiles, which have been developed as the Future Attack Helicopter Weapon (FAHW).
Apache AH2.jpg
All 63 WAH-64D Apache should be upgraded to AH-64E standard with Brimstone 3B anti-armour missiles.

Under existing plans 50 WAH-64D Apache helicopters are due to be remanufactured to the latest AH-64E Guardian standard by 2024. The process is being managed so that 12-13 helicopters are remanufactured at any one time with replacements being brought out of storage to maintain an active fleet of 50. As there is a definite need to further increase anti-armour capabilities, and the cost of remanufacturing is relatively low, an order should be placed to remanufacture the whole surviving Apache fleet.

The increased number of Apache AH2 should be divided into five Squadrons and an OCU. Two frontline Squadrons could be allocated to the 3rd (UK) Division, two to 16 Air Assault Brigade and one to 3 Commando Brigade. Each Squadron is made up of three Flights – one of which should be held at high readiness to be deployed as part of the Air Assault Task Force.
Wildcat Martlet firing.jpg
Both Army and Navy Wildcat helicopters should be armed with Martlet missiles.

Wildcat AH1 helicopters should be upgraded with a combination of eight Brimstone 3B and ten Martlet lightweight air-to-surface missiles. This would increase their versatility and give them an effective anti-armour capability to add to their ISTAR role. They are divided into three Squadrons and an OCU. Of the three frontline Squadrons two are part of 1 Aviation Brigade and allocated to 16 Air Assault Brigade and one is part of the Fleet Air Arm and allocated to 3 Commando Brigade. They should also replace the Bell 212 helicopters currently operating in Brunei. One Squadron should be held at high readiness for the Air Assault Task Force.

The Gazelle will achieve fifty years of service in 2022. This venerable helicopter is in need of replacement. While a like-for-like replacement would be possible a combination of Wildcat AH1 and Watchkeeper UAV could cover most of its responsibilities. The remaining Gazelles should be stood down and provide the personnel for the fifth Apache Squadron.

A total of 45 Watchkeeper UAV are now available with 21 in active service and 24 in storage to be called upon when needed. They are divided between three Batteries of the 47th Regiment Royal Artillery – one of which should be maintained at high readiness.

Fleet Air Arm

Currently, only the Commando Helicopter Force comes under the responsibility of the Joint Helicopter Command but it would seem more efficient in the future to have all of the UK’s helicopter assets under one Command.

One of the greatest threats to the Royal Navy’s surface vessels, merchant shipping and ocean floor communication cables comes from submarines. The addition of nine P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, eight maritime UCAV and eight Type 26 ASW Global Combat Ships would greatly strengthen the long-range and short-range anti-submarine capabilities of Naval Command.
Merlin HMA2.jpg
The Merlin HMA2 is an extremely versatile helicopter that could operate in AEW, ASW and ASuW roles.

Medium-range ASW is primarily the responsibility of the Merlin HM2. 30 of these have been upgraded to be compatible with the ten new AEW Crowsnest radars so that they can be adapted very quickly to provide advanced early warning radar to the fleet. Of a planned forward fleet of 25 Merlin helicopters nine are allocated to AEW, nine to ASW on the Carrier Strike Group and three would serve in the OCU. This leaves just four available for ASW for the rest of the fleet – a wholly inadequate number!

Therefore, an additional eight Merlin HM1, currently held in storage, should be upgraded to HM2 standard as a matter of priority to create a total fleet of 38 Merlins with a planned forward fleet of 31. This would enable nine of them to be allocated to AEW, nine to ASW for the CSG and four in the OCU. The rest of the fleet would then operate nine Merlins – more than doubling the number available!

These Merlins are very capable helicopters and could easily supplement Naval Command’s maritime strike capabilities. To achieve this each Merlin should be upgraded to carry up to four Sea Venom anti-shipping missiles so that it can also operate in an ASuW role alongside the Wildcat HMA2. The designation of these helicopters would then change to HMA2.

The 28 Wildcat HMA2 are divided between two Squadrons and will operate with a mixture of Sea Venom medium anti-shipping missiles and Martlet lightweight air-to-surface missiles in an ASuW role and lightweight Sting Ray torpedoes in an ASW role.

Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing

The capability of the JSFAW could be dramatically enhanced with a Squadron of eight CV-22B Osprey. This variant is specifically designed for long-range special operations missions with terrain following radar and additional fuel capacity. It can comfortably carry 24 fully equipped troops up to 1,600 kilometres.

The Osprey would be a significant improvement over the Chinook HC5, which currently perform this role, and they could then be withdrawn.
CV-22B Osprey.jpg
Special Forces would benefit from the longer range of the CV-22B Osprey.

The Special Forces remaining elderly Gazelle helicopters should be replaced in the near future by three more Dauphin II to take their total to eight.

Transport Helicopters

The Chinook fleet has a significantly improved capability thanks to the 14 new Chinook HC6 and the upgrading of 38 older Chinook helicopters to HC6A standard. In 2018 the MoD investigated the possibility of an order for 16 Extended Range Chinook HC7 to replace the HC5 and the oldest HC6A but at a price of up to U$3.5 billion this is surely too expensive.

The Merlin HC4 has been fully adapted to maritime operations to serve as the principal helicopter transport for amphibious operations.

Currently the out of service date for the Puma HC2 medium-lift helicopter is 2025 but this can be extended beyond 2030 to release funds for the full Apache upgrade and the other proposals listed here. The Merlin HMA2 and HC4 have an out of service date of 2035. Both helicopters should be replaced by the European Medium Multi-Role Helicopter which is being develop by France, Germany, Greece, Italy and the UK.

Basing

The MoD in its report A Better Defence Estate, November 2016 outlined a plan to dispose of surplus bases.

Since then there has been growing pressure to provide new sites for housing, particularly in the South East of England. With land prices at a high level the MoD should go further in disposing of sites in high value property areas and relocating units to lower cost areas, preferably closer to military ranges to minimise flying costs.

This should include developing RAF Benson, RAF Odiham and AAC Middle Wallop for housing.

The Puma Wing and Chinook OCU at RAF Benson could relocate to JHC Honington, close to the Stanford training area.

The Chinook Wing at RAF Odiham could relocate to MoD Boscombe Down, in the heart of Salisbury Plain, or MoD Lyneham.

The training units at AAC Middle Wallop could be divided between JHC Yeovilton and MoD Woodbridge.

USAFE services both the Osprey and the RC-135 Rivet Joint (known as the Air Seeker in the RAF) from its base at Mildenhall. Now that this base is no longer under threat of closure it could also be used as the maintenance base for both aircraft in British service.

Conclusion

In total, there are eight proposals here to be considered as part of the Integrated Review, one of which has already been agreed since SDSR15.

Those that are essential include:
• remanufacturing the whole Apache WAH-64D fleet to AH-64E standard, standing up a fifth frontline Squadron and retiring remaining Gazelle helicopters
• integrating Brimstone 3B and Martlet missiles on to Wildcat AH1 and
• upgrading an additional eight Merlin HM1 to HMA2 standard.

Those that are desirable include:
• introducing eight CV-22B Osprey VTOL aircraft to replace eight Chinook HC5 and
• ordering three Dauphin II.

And those that are optional include:
• integrating Sea Venom on to Merlin HMA2
• developing RAF Benson, RAF Odiham and AAC Middle Wallop for housing and
• operating a joint maintenance facility for the CV-22B and RC-135 with the USAF at RAF Mildenhall (in July 2020 the USAF announced the base would stay open).


Joint Helicopter Command during the mid-2020s would operate:
• 63 Apache AH2 in 6 Squadrons
• 34 Wildcat AH1 in 4 Squadrons
• 38 Merlin HMA2 in 4 Squadrons
• 28 Wildcat HMA2 in 2 Squadrons
• 2,120 Brimstone 3B
• 360 Sea Venom
• 1,020 Martlet
• 430 Sting Ray light torpedoes
• 8 CV-22B Osprey in 1 Squadron
• 8 Dauphin II in 1 Squadron
• 52 Chinook HC6/6A in 4 Squadrons
• 25 Merlin HC4 in 3 Squadrons
• 23 Puma HC2 in 2 Squadrons and
• 45 Watchkeeper UAV in 3 Batteries.

See Appendix 4: Helicopter Joint Force 2025 for details of the helicopters and missiles announced in SDSR15 together with the extra proposals contained here.
Helicopter Joint Force 2025.jpg
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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by RetroSicotte »

Some of the ranges are a little uncertain there. Sea Venom has only ever been described as "20km+", while Brimstone has actually been quoted as capable of 60km from fixed wing and 40km from rotary.

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by AndyC »

There are quite a few references on the internet stating that the original Brimstone missile had a range of 7.5 miles. There are also several references to Brimstone 2 having a "more than 200% increase in range" which is where I've got the 22 mile range from.

Sea Venom's range is harder to pin down but I used https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-ar ... siles.html which talks of specialists expecting a 15 to 40 nautical mile range.

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by indeid »

JHC reports to Army HQ, it is a 2* Formation, not a 4* Command.

Are the 'Grey' RN platforms even in JHC? I thought the Merlin Mk2s and the Wildcat HMA2s stayed with the RN while the CHF were part of JHC?

With the financial pressures unfortunately I think the 'orphan 8' Merlins are gone. No doubt the RN will keep putting the option forward but if the SDSR15 spurge didn't pick them up I'm not sure it will get done. Maybe once the carrier is operational and the strain on the Merlin fleet is showing it could gain traction, but by then it may be too late. A problem being kicked down the road......

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by RetroSicotte »

AndyC wrote:There are quite a few references on the internet stating that the original Brimstone missile had a range of 7.5 miles. There are also several references to Brimstone 2 having a "more than 200% increase in range" which is where I've got the 22 mile range from.

Sea Venom's range is harder to pin down but I used https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-ar ... siles.html which talks of specialists expecting a 15 to 40 nautical mile range.
The original Brimstone can reach out to 20km from fixed wing, as per the RAF themselves who state it as "10nm+". Brimstone 2 has been said to have a 200% increase in range.

Sea Venom I've only heard at most from varied source outlets as "greater than 20km" or "greater than 25km".

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AndyC
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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by AndyC »

indeid wrote:JHC reports to Army HQ, it is a 2* Formation, not a 4* Command.

Are the 'Grey' RN platforms even in JHC? I thought the Merlin Mk2s and the Wildcat HMA2s stayed with the RN while the CHF were part of JHC?
You are quite right but as the budgeting, planning, maintenance and basing of all the helicopters seems increasingly to be co-ordinated I have treated them as a whole. Maybe it's time that they were all put in JHC? Without trying to open too much of a hornet's nest I would put a larger JHC under Air Command rather than the Army - while rotating the Commanding Officer between all three services.

The 'orphan' 8 Merlins were put in to climate controlled storage in Boscombe Down in 2015 and should still be in a fair condition. There are a further 4 that were put into storage in Shawbury around 2010 but getting those back into service would be more of a challenge as I believe they've started to be reduced to parts.

Currently there are 30 Merlin HM2 and 8 Sea King ASaC7 in service. The Sea Kings are due to retire in 2018 - I still hope that they will be replaced by 8 additional Merlins.

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by AndyC »

I've also amended the attachment to reflect the information provided by RetroSicotte.

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

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Funding Helicopter Priorities to 2025

This assessment is based on the MoD’s defence equipment plan 2016 which can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... -plan-2016
The MoD report provides plenty of detail that can be used to assess the state of the procurement budget by service.

For each budget heading this analysis examines the ‘Equipment Procurement (Uncommitted)’ figure. The budget headings below are those used on pages 18-31.

Helicopters - £2.35 billion in Uncommitted Equipment Procurement

Included in this are:
• £320 million for remanufacturing 38 Apache WAH-64D helicopters to Apache AH-64E standard, https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-boe ... 411m-deal/
• £270 million on ten Crowsnest radar systems
• £90 million to integrate Sea Venom and Martlet on to Wildcat HMA2 and
• £50 million to integrate Brimstone 2 on the Apache AH2.

In addition the Helicopters budget can fund:
• £460 million for eight CV-22B Osprey VTOL aircraft (based on a flyaway unit cost of U$75 million)
• £200 million on upgrading eight Merlin HM1 to HM2 standard
• £100 million for remanufacturing the remaining 12 Apache WAH-64D to AH-64E standard
• £70 million to integrate Brimstone 2 and Martlet on to Wildcat AH1
• £40 million to integrate Sea Venom on to Merlin HMA2 and
• £30 million for three Dauphin II.

That leaves a surplus of £720 million available to be transferred to the Combat Air budget.

The surplus has come about due to the order to remanufacture the Apache WAH-64D to AH-64E standard rather than buying new. This decision alone will save U$1.75 billion if applied to the whole 50 strong fleet.

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by benny14 »

Great document. Really lets you get a grasp of everything the MOD is trying to fund. Cant wait for the next one to come out in January.

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

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Helicopter Budget Priorities to 2026

This assessment is based on the MoD’s defence equipment plan 2017 which can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... -plan-2017 It examines the ‘Equipment Procurement (Uncommitted)’ figure for Combat Air at March 31st 2017 and can be found on pages 32-33.

Helicopters - £640 million in Uncommitted Equipment Procurement

In June 2016 a total of £1.78 billion was Committed for the purchase of 50 new build Apache AH-64E helicopters. However, in June 2017 a contract was signed for the refurbishment of 38 helicopters. This was at a cost of U$612 million; the £/U$ rate at the time was 1.28 so this amounts to £480 million.

If the next 12 WAH-64Ds are also refurbished at the same unit cost this would come to U$200 million. With a current exchange rate of £/U$ 1.34 this amounts to £150 million. A further £80 million is required for the integration of Brimstone 2 as the Future Attack Helicopter Weapon (FAHW).

These new Commitments will lead to a total saving of £1.07 billion when compared to the 2016 contract. This can be transferred to Uncommitted Equipment Procurement to create an increased budget of £1.71 billion.

The Helicopters budget can fund:

• £180 million on refurbishing the final 13 WAH-64D to AH-64E standard including £20 million on integrating Brimstone 2 – unit cost U$16 million; current £/U$ exchange rate 1.30

• £100 million to integrate Brimstone 2 and Martlet on to Wildcat AH1 – unit cost £1.5 million per missile

• £200 million to upgrade an additional eight Merlin HM1 to HMA2 standard

• £1.15 billion for eight CV-22B Osprey VTOL aircraft – unit cost U$188 million based on proposed January 2014 sale to Israel, total U$1.5 billion for eight; £/U$ rate 1.30

• £20 million for three Dauphin II – unit cost £7 million

• £60 million to integrate Sea Venom on to Merlin HMA2 –unit cost £1.5 million.

The Helicopters budget is fully committed.

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by shark bait »

AndyC wrote:£200 million to upgrade an additional eight Merlin HM1 to HMA2 standard
Is the uncommitted money is real, why is this happening?
AndyC wrote:£1.12 billion for eight CV-22B Osprey VTOL aircraft – unit cost U$188 million recently proposed for Israel, total U$1.5 billion for eight; £/U$ rate 1.34
What for? Surely there are way higher priorities than this?
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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by Defiance »

shark bait wrote: What for? Surely there are way higher priorities than this?
Fantasy fleet stuff going on here pure and simple, just like the other "XXX to 2030" threads.

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by Lord Jim »

Give it all to the Army, they need it more.

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

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If the uncommitted money is real, why is this happening?
My opinion about why this hasn't happened is bureaucracy.

Firstly, the order for the final 12 AH-64E has to be placed. This has not happened because either the project has been caught in a moratorium while the latest defence review is going on or the MoD doesn't want to place any further orders with Boeing while there are still issues with Bombardier or the condition of the remaining twelve is much worse than the first 38 with higher cost implications or even that they're considering increasing the order to include a further 16 currently held in storage as the cost of the upgrade is very good value! Take your pick.

Secondly, a review has to be undertaken into the future of medium lift capability to (hopefully) push back the Puma HC2 OSD to align with the Merlins in the mid-2030s.

Thirdly, a decision is needed on the future of the Gazelle and on whether new Chinooks are required any time soon or whether they too can just be upgraded into the latter 2030s.

Then, and only then, would the bureaucrats be prepared to re-examine the issue of needing more ASW helicopters and how this might be achieved as it's an admission that they got it wrong first time around!

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by AndyC »

Having completed a bit of research it's become clear that the AAC still has at least 63 air worthy Apache AH1.

Of the original 67 ordered the current situation is:

• one was written off in an accident in 2016

• one has been dismantled http://www.demobbed.org.uk/aircraft.php?type=163 and two are in long-term storage

• thirteen are in Boeing's plant in Mesa making up the first wave to be remanufactured to AH-64E standard

• eight are in the Apache Depth Support Unit making up the sustainment fleet

• eleven are allocated to 653/673 Squadrons for training and one is with QinetiQ

• 30 are allocated to units within 3 and 4 AAC Regiments.

This confirms that the fleet is being managed through the use of helicopters that were in storage to ensure that it doesn't drop below a forward fleet of 42 and a sustainment fleet of eight.

Previously I had feared that those in storage might not be all that air worthy and this influenced the way I originally wrote the article. With confirmation that they are, I believe there is an overwhelming case for remanufacturing at least 63 helicopters rather than the current plan of 50.

I have therefore re-written the article accordingly including a proposal to stand up a fifth frontline Apache AH2 Squadron with personnel from the last remaining Gazelle Squadron - with the Gazelle being withdrawn from service without a direct replacement.

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by Lord Jim »

We will have to see what comes out of the MDP, which seems to gaining in importance regarding the future shape of the UK's military, especially as battle lines have been drawn between the MoD on one side and the PM office and Treasury on the other. There are so many programmes and capabilities that need additional money if the UK is going to achieve even a portions of what we aspire to so regarding the AH-64E we could possibly end up with a single AAC Regiment of three squadrons of eight to ten airframes with the remained in the sustainment fleets etc. and the final twelve not upgrades and discarded. I cannot see the Gazelle being replaced except by a leased platform for use as a communications assets and I think the AAC Wildcats could be in danger with a few going to the RM/FAA with the remainder being discarded also. The headlines will be the introduction into service of the Apache Guardian, with everything else going under the radar.

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

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The assessment below is based on the MoD’s defence equipment plan 2019 which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... -plan-2019


Joint Forces Command Top Level Budget 2019-29.

New Equipment for Special Forces:

• £1.16 billion on eight CV-22B Osprey VTOL aircraft – unit cost U$188 million based on proposed January 2014 sale to Israel, total U$1.5 billion for eight; £/U$ rate 1.30 and
• £20 million for three Dauphin II – unit cost £7 million.


Land Helicopters, part of Army Command Top Level Budget 2019-29.

£740 million saving on postponement of 25 medium-lift helicopters to replace Puma HC2 after 2030 – based on unit cost of NH-90 Tactical Transport Helicopter €32.6 million; £/€ rate 1.10

£555 million of essential extras:
• £420 million on refurbishing the remaining 13 WAH-64D to AH-64E standard including £20 million on integrating Brimstone 3B – unit cost U$40 million; £/U$ rate 1.30
• £100 million to integrate Brimstone 3B and Martlet on to Wildcat AH1 – unit cost £1.5 million per missile and
• £35 million for top-up order of 400 Hellfire missiles.

Overall budget saving of £185 million for Army Command TLB.


The main article is also fully updated for the Integrated Defence Review 2021.

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by BlueD954 »

Why does everyone want the V-22 and not a British or joint with some other nation tilt-rotor aircraft? Would buy all US stuff be the best?

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by Lord Jim »

Considering how much the MV-22 programme cost the US, and what the actual market would be for an equivalent manufactured by the UK plus others, unless there were massive Governmental subsidies it is really a non starter.

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by mr.fred »

Looking at the unit cost I’d think it would be a non-starter to buy something like that at all.

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

mr.fred wrote:Looking at the unit cost I’d think it would be a non-starter to buy something like that at all.
Agreed but I guess the Prgrm Cost was driven by the need/ changed concept of their marines starting from OTH and still landing 100 mls inland
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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by SW1 »

If you want to see a much smaller number of helicopters going fwd tilt rotors are the best way to achieve it.

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

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SW1 wrote:If you want to see a much smaller number of helicopters going fwd tilt rotors are the best way to achieve it.
Fewer = How many?

Fewer titlt rotors which current fleet are you goin to dispose - Puma, Merlin or Chinook? Or is there a huge budget to put them in storage?

Who is going to fly these fewer tilt-rotors - RAF Army or RN FAA?

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by SW1 »

BlueD954 wrote:
SW1 wrote:If you want to see a much smaller number of helicopters going fwd tilt rotors are the best way to achieve it.
Fewer = How many?

Fewer titlt rotors which current fleet are you goin to dispose - Puma, Merlin or Chinook? Or is there a huge budget to put them in storage?

Who is going to fly these fewer tilt-rotors - RAF Army or RN FAA?
Well I suspect the operating cost of a tiltrotor will be in the order of 25-35% more than a normal helicopter so reduction in numbers by around that amount. More if you want v22. Would suspect your looking at the wildcat, puma Merlin fleets replacements. Wouldn’t touch them with a barge pole if it was me.

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Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Post by RunningStrong »

BlueD954 wrote:
SW1 wrote:If you want to see a much smaller number of helicopters going fwd tilt rotors are the best way to achieve it.
Fewer = How many?

Fewer titlt rotors which current fleet are you goin to dispose - Puma, Merlin or Chinook? Or is there a huge budget to put them in storage?

Who is going to fly these fewer tilt-rotors - RAF Army or RN FAA?
I would say Puma, and who cares? Create a joint force and allow all arms to populate. The constant bickering over who gets what helicopter is boring.

And showing my ignorance, what is the role of Puma?

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