Continental Defence Corvette

[GR66]

I think people arguing for a hangar and helo are seriously underestimating the additional costs in money, space, and personnel required to conduct flight ops from a ship.

If you add an air det(and it's required enablers), you're nearly doubling the crew size that the RCN is shooting for.

You of course are 100% correct about the cost of an air detachment, both in space and crewing. The question is what is your starting point in determining the requirements for a ship...the size of crew you want it to have or the capabilities you want it to have.

There seems to be a bit of schizophrenia in the discussions about the CDC. It's supposed to be a relatively small ship with quite a small crew which would suggest no helicopter, but the role being discussed is patrolling the ice edge to detect enemy submarines which would suggest the need for a helicopter.

The $64,000.00 question is whether UAV's (or other technologies) can replace the capability of a helicopter within the space/crewing targets. Alternately, does the proposed operating concept for the CDC need to be revised to suit the capabilities of a small ship?

 

[daftandbarmy]

The $64,000.00 question is whether UAV's (or other technologies) can replace the capability of a helicopter within the space/crewing targets. Alternately, does the proposed operating concept for the CDC need to be revised to suit the capabilities of a small ship?

I'm no naval air expert but my guess is that UAV technology is not yet advanced enough, or deployable enough, to replace MH helicopters and crew.

Augmenting? Sure. Replacing wholesale? Probably not...

 

[Halifax Tar]

I'm no naval air expert but my guess is that UAV technology is not yet advanced enough, or deployable enough, to replace MH helicopters and crew.

Augmenting? Sure. Replacing wholesale? Probably not...

There was a project, up until 2019/2020(?) to replace the STBD Torpedo Mag on CPFs with a HELO UAV compartment. I am not sure what happened to that project, I suspect its been canceled. But my Cox'n on FRE in 2020 was on the project before joining us.

I am of the opinion that the RCN wants unmanned aircraft sooner than later.