US Army divesting 8% of Blackhawk Fleet

[KevinB]

I have the perfect CH-146 SLEP...

US Army to trim Black Hawk helicopter fleet

The Army will pare down its fleet of Black Hawk helicopters as end strength falls and the service prepares to field its replacement.

www.defensenews.com

 

[Skysix]

Why do they keep on making the same mistake over and over (F22 a classic example)? Decommissioning or stopping production of a system before its replacement is ready?

And if you say to free up budget for the newest greatest toy to be built, you are putting political budgetary/taxation games ahead of national security

 

[quadrapiper]

I have the perfect CH-146 SLEP...

US Army to trim Black Hawk helicopter fleet

The Army will pare down its fleet of Black Hawk helicopters as end strength falls and the service prepares to field its replacement.

www.defensenews.com

How's Ukraine doing for helicopters?

And are these "perfectly serviceable, lots more use on them" or "driven like they were stolen, wring the last iota of use out" rotorcraft?

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Canadian Armed Forces Pickers from procurement, will be salivating at more surplus stuff going on the market.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Why do they keep on making the same mistake over and over (F22 a classic example)? Decommissioning or stopping production of a system before its replacement is ready?

And if you say to free up budget for the newest greatest toy to be built, you are putting political budgetary/taxation games ahead of national security

Your talking the same government that allowed a Red Chinese spy balloon drift around the continental US and hovering over sensitive bases collecting data for over a week. The one with the open southern border letting unvetted, undocumented terrorists in from around the world. That national security?

 

[lenaitch]

Why do they keep on making the same mistake over and over (F22 a classic example)? Decommissioning or stopping production of a system before its replacement is ready?

And if you say to free up budget for the newest greatest toy to be built, you are putting political budgetary/taxation games ahead of national security

Like we did with the Buffalo?

 

[KevinB]

Why do they keep on making the same mistake over and over (F22 a classic example)? Decommissioning or stopping production of a system before its replacement is ready?

And if you say to free up budget for the newest greatest toy to be built, you are putting political budgetary/taxation games ahead of national security

Well these are generally older models, and unlike the A-10 or F-22, they aren’t really divesting the fleet. During GWOT we plus’d up the UH fleet way above establishment due to the support needed by other USG entities and the dispersed nature of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Digital upgrade of the Blackhawk is still continuing, and new birds are still being acquired as well. So while it is a reduction of fleet numbers, we are still going to be overboard on TO&E numbers for the UH fleet for sometime.

https://asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/black-hawk-uhhh-60/

 

[CBH99]

Well these are generally older models, and unlike the A-10 or F-22, they aren’t really divesting the fleet. During GWOT we plus’d up the UH fleet way above establishment due to the support needed by other USG entities and the dispersed nature of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Digital upgrade of the Blackhawk is still continuing, and new birds are still being acquired as well. So while it is a reduction of fleet numbers, we are still going to be overboard on TO&E numbers for the UH fleet for sometime.

https://asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/black-hawk-uhhh-60/

As much as I question certain things about the American military industrial complex...wouldn't it be nice if we had this American problem?

"Damnit, we requested 16 new fighters on our unfunded priorities list, and Parliament bought us 20!!"

 

[dapaterson]

As much as I question certain things about the American military industrial complex...wouldn't it be nice if we had this American problem?

"Damnit, we requested 16 new fighters on our unfunded priorities list, and Parliament bought us 20!!"

The CAF already has too much infrastructure and too much equipment that it can't adequately maintain / sustain. More equipment without operating funds to maintain and operate is not a recipe for success.

 

[KevinB]

The CAF already has too much infrastructure and too much equipment that it can't adequately maintain / sustain. More equipment without operating funds to maintain and operate is not a recipe for success.

Well a lot of your equipment maintenance issues are from having to use them without enough maintenance. Larger fleets could alleviate that issue.

WRT your infrastructure issues, that’s been decades of decaying.

 

[captloadie]

Well a lot of your equipment maintenance issues are from having to use them without enough maintenance. Larger fleets could alleviate that issue.

WRT your infrastructure issues, that’s been decades of decaying.

Except for the fact there are plenty of parts on an aircraft that TX and/or need to be inspected on a regular basis regardless of whether they are flown. All you are doing is punting the problem down the road, until you have an even larger number to "fix" with the same number of people.

Unlike pro-athletes, we can't afford to use it once and then replace it.

 

[KevinB]

Unlike pro-athletes, we can't afford to use it once and then replace it.

SOF disagrees

 

[Rifleman62]

How long will it take to "Canadianize" them?

 

[dimsum]

How long will it take to "Canadianize" them?

After the P-8 contract, I’m guessing “the minimum time” is the correct answer.

 

[Skysix]

How's Ukraine doing for helicopters?

And are these "perfectly serviceable, lots more use on them" or "driven like they were stolen, wring the last iota of use out" rotorcraft?

Mostly the remaining Alpha models with a lot of airframe time (many already surplused off and upgraded to Lima or Alpha+ standard in part 91 service (non pax carrying)

 

[calculus]

Dropping this in here, because there is reference to a further buy of Mikes, but the big news is the apparent cancellation of FARA.

US Army spent billions on a new helicopter that now will never fly

The Army said it sees the cancellation of the FARA program as an adjustment to technological advancements and the changing character of warfare.

www.defensenews.com

Also commits to Chinook Blk 2, but delays the ITEP (GE T901). Really quite remarkable news.

 

[calculus]

Wasn't quite sure what thread to post this to, but Sikorsky performed ground runs on the new T901 engines on a Blackhawk. I think Canada could do well selecting this platform to replace the Griffons, especially with new engines and electronics.

UH-60 Black Hawk Begins Ground Tests With Far More Powerful T901 Engines

The Improved Turbine Engine has powered a Black Hawk for the first time and is also due to be installed in AH-64 attack helicopters. The Improved Turbine Engine has powered a Black Hawk for the first time and is also due to be installed in AH-64 attack helicopters.

www.twz.com

 

[Good2Golf]

901 looks like a decent engine, if it is good not only on performance but maintainability, it’ll be a good next-gen engine for UH/AH.

 

[Kirkhill]

901 looks like a decent engine, if it is good not only on performance but maintainability, it’ll be a good next-gen engine for UH/AH.

Could you stick it on top of a CH-146?

 

[KevinB]

Could you stick it on top of a CH-146?

When a Blackhawk is lifting a Griffon then sure