Jolly Roger
Yes. I am a Pirate.
Oh, it could be done! Things will change when I'm CNO!
Words like, Yarrr will be part of the official vernacular and eye patches will be part of the uniform.
Oh, it could be done! Things will change when I'm CNO!
Should we call it the AP-3?
I would still rather have more ISR platforms for the cost and not have to pick up the mess from a P3 that went down in country.
Yeah, back to HSCS' original premise that buying a new MMA is a waste of taxpayer dollars. Even if you buy the "Predator does it better/cheaper than the P-3" argument (which I don't), overland ISR is but one of many missions which MMA performs. How do you, HSCS, intend to perform ASW in the future, with helos? Just because the Soviets are out of the picture doesn't mean we can just ignore any possibility of a future sub threat. In fact, China is churning out subs like it's going out of style, many of which are destined for export. I'd be interested in your strategy for the future of ASW.
Brett
I am not about ignoring ASW. I will say that it has been unfortunate that the helo community -- HS especially, has ditched ASW for "sexier" missions. With the creation of the ASW command and focussing each helo community on separate primary missions, we can hopefully reverse the trend. I hold no perceptions that the Firescout could be an ASW platform. I do believe that the -60R, will provide an excellent platform, that will add significantly to a combined arms approach to killing as many subs as a country can churn out. However, I would be all for the Firescout if my mission was to VID surface contacts that may have a significant defensive weapons suite. That way I would have to spend the minimum time in someone's WEZ.
UAVs are just another tool for the tool box -- in certain instances, they can do the same job for less risk.
What we are good for is someone that can deal with a sub while waiting for the MPA crew to sleep off their hangover, take thier hollywood shower, drive to the airport, and launch.
Real blue-water ASW requires MMA style capabilities.
Hate to disagree with you Brett but...Real blue-water ASW requires another submarine.
As a dolphin wearer, I am in 100% agreement that air assets make certain aspects of our operations much more difficult. However, while air is very good at missions like area denial and protecting particular assets in restricted waters...From my experience, you can't hunt submarines in big water without another submarine.
No offense meant to any ASW types...
Let the flames begin...
EDIT: By the way...there is nothing more difficult in the submarine world than getting away from a pair of dipping sonars once they get ya...Helos give submariners fits in certain mission profiles.
Brett's statement was in regard to "capabilities" not platform.
From what? Manning section tracking after you got off watch running the throttles? That's alright, I was driving the boat, and then on sparkle team on off section... Sorry, couldn't resist!Part of my response also comes from my experience.
Most of our cuing during the cold war was from SOSUS
True enough...
Part of my response also comes from my experience. Although I am a bubblehead I had two odd experiences. I was a Trident guy and then did some time on Parche...so...I basically hid...first in deep water and then...well and then...:icon_wink
Good point with the type of asset point. Obviously I'm in a very nuc-boat centered world.