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1

Irish Air Corps / The AW149 the helicopter the Air Corps should be flying.

« on: November 15, 2009, 09:53:47 am »

Another recycled Lynx for the Brits. Surely it's time to move on.


Here it is the the properly militarised AW139 known as the AW149. This is the helicopter the Air Corps actually wanted and needed. But now they'll have to make do with a Gucci Executive helicopter until they wear out. Not only that they'll probably remain one of the very few 139s in military use. 

http://www.agustawestland.com/product/aw149

The AW149 answers a growing demand for the next generation, affordable, multi-purpose medium class helicopter, for military and government agencies. Fully digitised and with an open systems architecture (OSA) and fully integrated mission equipment, the AW149 is designed for the modern battlefield. With a rugged construction incorporating crashworthy features, such as up to eighteen crashworthy troop seats and excellent access and egress, the AW149 maximises survivability. Twin engines ensure high performance in hot and high conditions. A 4-axis auto-pilot and advanced latest generation avionics system serves to minimise crew work load. The aircraft can also be configured to carry a variety of weapons and stores on external carriers. The AW149 is suited to battlefield support, combat SAR, reconnaissance, surveillance, medical evacuation, search and rescue (SAR) and command and control support roles.

That's exactly what the Air Corps wanted but no they now have to spend the next 20 flying around in a executive helicopter painted green.

2

Aviation Waffle / Last RAF air to air kill

« on: December 26, 2008, 09:38:51 pm »

Individual RAF pilots serving in the RN, did get kills in the Falklands. But nevertheless the RAF never got a sniff of a dogfight since 1948. They have seen plenty of action but it's all air to ground. Yet we have people here advocating the Air Corps getting fighters when there is no military threat to Ireland at all from anyone anywhere.

As for the hijack threat. After 9/11 that option was closed for the jihadis, simply because no set of passengers are going to sit still and be flown into a target. So bombs are preferred.

Ireland is not and never was a target for terrorists other than our domestic variety.

The Air Corps did consider the Aero L159 after 9/11, however for interceptors you need military radar which we don't have. Costs of £200 million were projected for the radar alone. Unaffordable.

So there are two aspects to the argument. We cannot afford jets, but in any case there is practically no scenario where we would need them. We do have aircraft which are practically useless militarily but are over the top as basic trainers for future helicopter pilots. The question is why? In my opinion the Air Corps took what they could get. The politicians in this country are fundamentally ignorant of military issues and went with it.

One of the earlier posters said this:

PS Maybe some other nations should feel embarrassed about having a bloated and under-utilised military thats main reason to exist as it is today is historical and the government hasn't the stomach to make politically unpopular staff cuts in what is essentially one of the main employers in the state.

It remains true.