tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post1089770977112607288..comments2024-03-16T11:54:44.590+01:00Comments on Defence and Freedom: TacAir of the future (?)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-48993559652879293692009-11-24T03:14:29.251+01:002009-11-24T03:14:29.251+01:00Though primarily discussing the broader class of T...Though primarily discussing the broader class of Time Sensitive Targets (TSTs), <a href="http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA451930&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">this</a> publication lists some other benefits of fixed wing aircraft and ATACMS.<br /><br />Of course some limitations (e.g. lack of delay fuze on ATACMS) can be overcome.B.Smittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12650152449414871058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-6759643091459135162009-11-20T14:57:15.527+01:002009-11-20T14:57:15.527+01:00The total life cycle costs of aircraft includes ma...The total life cycle costs of aircraft includes maintenance, fuel, crews, pilots and their legacy costs of pensions, housing, benefits.<br /><br />The canceled Comanche stealth scout helicopter showed that modern weapons are prohibitively expensive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-51361886351395119212009-11-20T12:39:39.344+01:002009-11-20T12:39:39.344+01:00The cost side is difficult to discuss without good...The cost side is difficult to discuss without good cost data.<br /><br />I have a very strong suspicion that more elaborate munitions (30 km rockets) win over elaborate platforms with a bit less elaborate munitions (guided bombs) in most cases.<br /><br />It's less obvious in a scenario as Afghanistan, but even there we see strong indications.<br />The cost of sustaining personnel and air power in-country or to fly over the country from remote bases is quite impressive. Hundreds of thousands of USD per man-year and many, many times the normal price for fuel units.<br /><br />Add in the fixed cost of the air frame (relevant in the long run and in regard to consumption of airframe durability).<br /><br />Rocket artillery - not a perfect substitute especiallyy in mountaineous regions, of course - would basically need few personnel plus the shipment of the ammunition (almost no fuel consumption).<br /><br />The picture becomes even more convincing in conventional war when air attacks are much more than just a strike fighter in the air. You need to add jamming aircraft, tanker aircraft, SEAD (suppression of enemy air defences) aircraft and combat air patrols (against enemy fighters) for the full Western-style air power repertoire and for low losses.<br />The actual air/ground sorties can make up less than half of the total aircraft sorties. That multiplies the costs. A competent enemy conceals, deceives and camouflages himself well and reduces the efficiency of such strike packages even more. Many air/ground aircraft dropped only one or two or even no ammunition during the Kosovo Air War, for example.<br /><br />The relatively simple rocket artillery requires a much less elaborate system of systems. That's why I treated it for a long time (also on this blog) primarily as an alternative to the Western complex strike package model - and as an operational level air attack alternative for underdog Air Forces.<br /><br />I think today that it's likely more than that, and the continued development of ATACMS (U.S.) and LORA (Israel) kinda confirm that.<br /><br />@Dr. Luny; the U.S. bought thousands of ATACMS and intends to buy over a thousand new ones. That's an impressive stock.<br /><br />@Norman: I'm a major conventional wars guy, small wars interest me little. That's why my writing is mostly in the major conventional war context. A Super Tucano is almost worthless as combat aircraft in that context.S Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03359796414832859686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-14612351944436351562009-11-20T10:41:46.450+01:002009-11-20T10:41:46.450+01:00I think you have made a point conserning the tacti...I think you have made a point conserning the tactical point of view. But since the financial aspect gets more and more important especially when you`re engaged in coin-warfare I`d like to know how you estimate the cost factor of such artillery systems with increasing complexity in comparison to the rather cheap and easy to maintain CAS-aircrafts like the A-10 or Super Tucano?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-88450721494861261982009-11-20T09:31:29.424+01:002009-11-20T09:31:29.424+01:00The one thing you didn't mention in regard to ...The one thing you didn't mention in regard to missiles was cost. I'm not sure about the specifics, but I believe that dropping dumb bombs from a reusable platform like a conventional aircraft is far cheaper than using long-range missiles. With complex and guided munitions the difference might not be so great, but it's definitely something to consider. If people bemoan the current artillery supply situation, I can only imagine how limited our stock of cruise missiles must be.Dr. Lunynoreply@blogger.com