Reply With QuoteV22 being 'hawked around' for the UK again, wonder how much success they'll have this time ??? How much is the V22 again, and would it be an appropriate fit for the QEC battle group?
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Perhaps something here for the future?
Osprey’s Next Jobs: Tanker or AWACS?
FARNBOROUGH, England — The V-22 Osprey’s program manager and his counterparts with Bell and Boeing have some high-tech aspirations for the future of their iconic — and controversial — tiltrotor.
Marine Col. Greg Masiello told reporters at the annual air show here Monday that the Osprey has only scratched the surface of the kinds of missions it could eventually take. Today, the big birds mostly ferry troops and equipment on the battlefield, but as more Ospreys enter service with more militaries, they could attempt any number of new missions.
Masiello said program officials are looking into giving an Osprey the capability to serve as a mid-air refueling tanker, a sort of miniature KC-130, which could trail a drogue and refuel another aircraft equipped with a U.S. Navy-style probe. That could include another Osprey, the way Navy carrier jets refuel each other, or almost any other aircraft with a refueling probe.
Masiello also said there’s no limit to the kinds of command and control, intelligence sensing and reconnaissance equipment an Osprey could carry. Defense contractors have had success building “sleds” of equipment that can just roll onto Coast Guard C-130 or HC-144A airplanes, and a future Osprey could copy that model.
This led a reporter to ask Masiello if it were possible than an Osprey could someday replace the Navy’s E-2 Hawkeye carrier-borne early-warning aircraft. Anything’s possible, Masiello responded, and although he was clear that today there is no formal Navy or Defense Department interest in such a concept, y’never know.
With thanks to 'defensetech.org'
V22 being 'hawked around' for the UK again, wonder how much success they'll have this time ??? How much is the V22 again, and would it be an appropriate fit for the QEC battle group?
Thanks
the V-22 could be useful as a buddy refuel bird and also as a cargo/personnel transport (i forget the exact name for the role)... and as being able to do both roles, it could become a cheaper alternative to getting a F35B specifically for buddy Refuel and the Merlins for Cargo/Personnel transport... also there would be the spaces aspect as well, if you can have one aircraft doing multiple roles.
Yes,it's much like BAE hawking typhoon round the world isn't it. We know that MOD has had a cursory look at the V22 and rejected it,but in the long term who knows.Originally Posted by QEC Eye in the SKY
You mean COD(carrier onboard Delivery)
yes a small buy of 12 aircraft for the FAA which be can be use as either COD/Tanker/AEW using a rollon/rolloff Pallet system would be idea for the presently configtred QE's
Yeah, that's what i meant. Having one aircraft that can do all those roles would be a good thing on a carrier, as it would not only save space Aircraft wise, but you'd only need to stock spares for one aircraft, not multiple ones (i mean in regards to the three roles) and crew training would be quicker
I must say chaps I like your idea's of a multi-role palletised version,I wonder if it's feasible (I see no reason why not). Then we come to the main sticking point,cost of development and cost of finished article,always the ruling thing in UK defence procurement.
development costs shouldn't be that bad IMHO, as the MOD would only be developing the pallets, rather than the entire aircraft..... and if they come up with a standardized pallet set up, aka one pallet base for all three roles, then the production costs would be reduced as well.
For the AEW Thales/ USMC have alreadydone studys of how to transfer the MK7AEW kit over to the osprey(Project call TOSS)
as for the Tanker it would a cut down version of a C130 Tanker convertion which the USMC use.
Hi folks, as you know the V22 is my preferred option and as Jonas has already pointed out procurement costs are going to be very high. the fly away cost to the US Military is £44,614,191 each (based on $69.300,000 at todays rates). So if we take cyril's flight of 12 (which is a good number and more than enough for our needs) the fly away costs would be £529,702,920 adding in spares and support plus development of the palletised modular system we are probably talking about a £1.5 Billion program, then we have the AEW component as well.
I'd truly love to have it and think it's the best solution giving the config of CVF now but I cant see the MOD going for this one unless co-funded/developed by the USMC.
PS forgot to mention the V22 program cost the US tax payer $50 billion!!
I know this will not be the most popular option,but. Would the RAF/Army have a requirement for a V22 and if so why not a JF Osprey if it means keeping down the procurement costs. Perhaps as we are building up our Special Forces and Rapid Reaction force,perhaps it might fill a niche there?
That's a really good point and is more MOD friendly due to the "Jointness" aspect.
This is no go due to RAF love of the Chinook's, which is being used as a SF aircraft at present
and army only has AH and Recon aircraft.
if anything V22 would be the ideal replacement for the RM Junglies, not that going to happen as the raf would throw out thier toys about that.
The current procurement is a bit service centered rather then job requirement.
I would use the new 14 off Chinooks(MK6) being build by boeing and transfer them to the RM's(16 air Assault Brigade) and make the aircraft fully marineised with folding rotates ect.
and let the RAF keep there Merlins MK3/3a's
Does sound like they are retouting the Osprey concept to the MOD, should the USMC manage to get the Tanker or COD option developed then i suspect it would be a future contender for the post 2020 role onboard the QEC. Crowsnest should be able to be adapted to fit the in the Osprey from either Thales or LM and it would allow our Merlins to focus on the ASW/ASuW aspect of their mission. However i doubt it would be 12 airframes as more likley to be the minimal 8 and use the USMC facilities to train crews rather than our own dedicated unit.
Currently the cost is prohibitive, the reliability of the concept is still in doubt but after a few more years of regular service along with expanding capability you can see the MoD eyeing the V-22 as an ideal solution for the AEW/COD/Tanker role.
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