OldSolduer
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CH-148 Cyclone Progress
- Thread starter Kirkhill
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I mean now that they lost Link 11 and have no plan for Link 16......
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GK .Dundas
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I see the Canadian Government and our senior military brass are performing up their usual high standard of competence.
If anyone wants me I'll be banging my head against a wall. This stuff makes far more sense when I'm slightly concussed.
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The subject is considerably more nuanced than that.I see the Canadian Government and our senior military brass are performing up their usual high standard of competence.
If anyone wants me I'll be banging my head against a wall. This stuff makes far more sense when I'm slightly concussed.
That is all that I will say.
GK .Dundas
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I'm sorry but I've been following the SeaKing replacement programme for about .... pretty much when they first started talking about replacing it in the mid to late 70's . ( Yes, I'm old .)
Its been like watching the world's slowest train wreck occurr.
It's as you say considerably more nuanced then that . I'm just incredibly frustrated watching this.
Military procurement as been a bugbear of míne for quite sometime. ( Did I mention I'm old
)deepblue202
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Well if we have to replace the cyclone what helicopter would be the best fit.
KevinB
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T'is but a shit show.
As I understand it Sikorsky (a subsidiary of the Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems portfolio) doesn't see it as viable to upgrade the Cyclone to Link16 as the only airframe that would require the effort are Canada's rather small fleet.
It appears only 2 real options exist at this point.
1) The EH-101 now AW-101 Merlin that was originally desired for the role (along with the SAR fleet). Commonality with the RN, and a rear ramp, a lot of commonality with the CH-149 Cormorant used for SAR as it is the same airframe.
2) MH-60R, which is smaller with shorter legs, but adds commonality with the US and most of the Pacific allied nations. Probably could work a deal with SiK to offload the orphan fleet, and come out with more platforms.
As I understand it Sikorsky (a subsidiary of the Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems portfolio) doesn't see it as viable to upgrade the Cyclone to Link16 as the only airframe that would require the effort are Canada's rather small fleet.
Well as neither pilot nor sailor, I am utterly unqualified to answer - but since it is the internet I will anyway
It appears only 2 real options exist at this point.
1) The EH-101 now AW-101 Merlin that was originally desired for the role (along with the SAR fleet). Commonality with the RN, and a rear ramp, a lot of commonality with the CH-149 Cormorant used for SAR as it is the same airframe.
2) MH-60R, which is smaller with shorter legs, but adds commonality with the US and most of the Pacific allied nations. Probably could work a deal with SiK to offload the orphan fleet, and come out with more platforms.
armrdsoul77
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Maxman1
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AW101 Merlin. Accept no substitutes.
MilEME09
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That and the cost would be about $300 million i hear
KevinB
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Which works out to ~12million/airframe
Currently the MH-60R is around $38million and has that capability.
GR66
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AW-101 has Link 16 as well
Maxman1
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I certainly can appreciate there would be the cost of the terminals plus some integration work. Maybe some airframe certification for any mods such as antennas. But I still can't see this being a $300Million program. To be honest, I'm shocked these were delivered without Link 16 (or 22) as part of the Block upgrades. Link 16 is hardly a new standard.
KevinB
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I believe it was Link 11 in the contract, which has sunset.
Some integration work to an entirely different fleet of aircraft with different sensors than either Link 16 or Link 22 are setup for.
LocMart doesn't seem to want to support the orphan fleet, and DND seems to have run out of damages for contract breach.
I was told for the past 2-3 years Sik has been pushing a "lets just take these away and get you into a fresh MH-60R" - which I think if probably in everyones best interests.
Or the RCN has a new MH helicopter competition, that will be won by either the MH-60R, or the AW-101 depending on how the specifications are written.
To me going to the R now, will leave room in the Hangar for more UAS options for both the CPF's as well as the River's when they come on line.
- the smaller footprint of the Romeo may also make it easier to use for AOPS?
It's funny. This platform gets a lot of hate on this forum, but the aircrew I've spoken with seem to like it. It's not perfect, but most of the complaints are around systems. Mechanically they seem to be quite robust. Are there any Cyclone aircrew on here that can comment?
There was a competition. The “Cadillacs “ won. (Why are some Canadian military contracts called Cadillac?) Chrétien didn’t like the results and canceled the contract, paid a penalty, then ordered just enough for SAR mission leaving the navy in a terrible position. Now we’re back where we started. Just like the subs. The Vic’s were supposed to be a temporary measure.
Maxman1
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You forgot about the fatal CH-113 crash, which forced them to replace the remaining CH-113s with the same helicopters they canceled years earlier.
