tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post2677195417378243434..comments2024-03-27T20:37:08.065+01:00Comments on Defence and Freedom: Military Helicopter prices and choicesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-68116886039875487532010-04-11T19:56:55.983+02:002010-04-11T19:56:55.983+02:00There's a compromise to be made. Few and a bit...There's a compromise to be made. Few and a bit more resilient helicopter or many, less resilient helicopters.<br /><br />The high-end models can easily end up being unable to meed the demand for MedEvac.S Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03359796414832859686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-75981451144976306232010-04-11T19:39:43.006+02:002010-04-11T19:39:43.006+02:00Sven, there's one thing you will have to accep...Sven, there's one thing you will have to accept and that is helicopters cost millions, its the way it is.<br /><br />Helicopters like the R44 etc are very cheap because they are very basic. The Bell 47G is also very cheap, it was very good in Korea but in Vietnam it was shot to pieces like a sitting duck. That is why the US embarked on a replacement programme that resulted in the OH-6 Loach and the OH-58 Kiowa. Both of which are still used today, a testament to their success, despite their additional expense.<br /><br />The fore-runner of the R66, the R22 had a nasty habit of chopping itself in two if the manouvre envelope became excessive. Not something you would wish for in a combat environment. In addition to this modern warfare demands twin engines (additional cost!), self-defence systems against MANPADS, RWR's, door gunners, communication kit etc, all of which adds weight. Put in some armoured seating and your R66 would never get off the ground! As for the 412EP, the Canadians are having trouble getting theirs off the ground in Afghanistan due to the hot and high conditions.<br /><br />Personally I'd utilise the 412EP and fit more powerful engines, in addition to crashworthy seating etc.<br /><br />And as for the Mi-8/17 these use 'old fashioned' methods of construction, and the developement costs on these were recouped decades ago. It will also be replaced by the Mi-38, which won't be as cheap.<br /><br />Expensive advanced technology improves survivability and availability, there's no use having 100 cheap helicopters if they've all been shot down.Richard Stockleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02084482674619971444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-83370223361428683012010-04-01T03:06:15.772+02:002010-04-01T03:06:15.772+02:00AFAIK, Mi-17 doesn't hover very well, if at al...AFAIK, Mi-17 doesn't hover very well, if at all. So something like a Blackhawk is better for troop insertion. But for everything else, Mi-17 gives much better bang for buck. It'd be interesting to see how its followon - Mi-38 turns out.So?noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-25624343473665666042010-03-29T08:21:16.212+02:002010-03-29T08:21:16.212+02:00The new NH90 seems to be a gold plated item nice t...The new NH90 seems to be a gold plated item nice to have as you said. Never the less it is reported that there are significant drawbacks in simple construction parameters also (http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,679701,00.html). Just one more point to prefer the low end, reliable, off-the-shelf design you proposed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-45051108453251262502010-03-28T20:46:35.760+02:002010-03-28T20:46:35.760+02:00The Bundeswehr was founded to defend Germany in wa...The Bundeswehr was founded to defend Germany in war - or even better to prevent the same. Small wars are quite or entirely unimportant - little more than political games.<br /><br /><br />Now looking at the scenario of a classic, full-out war - and let's hope that this stays a mere scenario for a couple generations at last - what helicopter force would we use?<br /><br />The military designs would be the minority (similar tos trategic air transport and logistics trucks).<br /><br />We would draft civilian pilots and commandeer civilian craft.<br /><br />Why should our arm prepare only for the use of high-end helicopters if it would use more simple civilian equipment mostly in case of war?<br /><br />The Cold War is over, we're no more an alliance frontier nation. Our country wouldn't become a battlefield before we could enlist civilian experts and commandeer civilian craft.<br /><br /><br />The present high-end strategy as it is being executed doesn't make sense for small wars either. The helicopters are late, very late - and we would never need that many (as few as they are) for our limited small war deployments. Buying a single squadron Black Hawks would make more sense if the Bundeswehr's purpose was to wage small wars.S Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03359796414832859686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-4228555444400580462010-03-28T20:13:59.968+02:002010-03-28T20:13:59.968+02:00An issue about more cheaper helicopters is the num...An issue about more cheaper helicopters is the numbers of pilots needed and the the pilot training needed. Both is expensive as well.Defiantnoreply@blogger.com