MH-60 Sleds
The reason I'm asking is to try to justify future requirements for extending the Mezzanine on Nimitz class. ShipAlt 9071K got cank'd. Currently we stow 12 AWW-13 data link Pods for SLAM-ER, about 50 ALQ-99 Assets and 4-5 hardbacks.
The Prowler Vans are coming down and the extension was supposed to take up the space, but it has become very difficult to justify extending the Mezz if no other stowage space is needed.
Future requirements to justify the funding for extension would be-ATFLIR pods (but at 36 per CAG I would assume they would all be flying and not stowed), and MH-60R towed assets, whatever they are. I was told they were "Sleds" like the MH-53E tows, but heard H-60 ain't got the guts so a different type of minehunter is to be used.
I actually am soliciting inputs for ideas about A/C systems coming out that will need space to stow,,,bring 'em on! Hangar space has always been a premium, and Handler would scream and then have a baby if we started thinking we were going to stow more stuff on the Hangar deck!
(spare H-60 rotor blades and spare fuel cells are already scheduled to be stowed forward hanging from the upper deck in Hangar Bay 1)
If you have any inputs or suggestions, please let me know, thanks.