Your Nation's Air Force Mark III: Best Korea Edition

[Kouralia]

(Image)

Hovercraft plane? Hovercraft plane.

So A VTOL?

No, a plane with hovercraft landing carriage.

[Sareva]

New Sarevan Navy helicopters purchased

The Sarevan Ministry of Defense just finalised a $24 million USD contract for procurement of twelve HAS-3 helicopters destined to replace some of the Royal Sarevan Navy's older UH-1N's currently serving in the utility/liaison role. The first deliveries are expected early in the first quarter of 2017, with the final examples pushed into service by the third quarter of the same year. The UH-1N's being replaced will then be transferred to the Coast Guard on a one-by-one basis.

The unit receiving these aircraft is Helicopter Support Wing Three-Five (HWU-35) "Bluebirds" currently stationed at Naval Air Station Hoisho-Sai, in the capital. Two of the HAS-3's will be given to Naval Flight Testing Squadron One-Six-Eight (FTEU-168) for advance training and support services; this unit is also stationed NAS Hoisho-Sai.

---

All this really means is that I just ordered some 1/350 helicopters and I'm going paint them like a boss.

[Theodosiya]

Between Agusta Westland 101 and Caracal..? For air force, army use Black Hawk and Chinook.

[The Akasha Colony]

Between Agusta Westland 101 and Caracal..? For air force, army use Black Hawk and Chinook.

For what role in the air force? Both are larger than more common medium-lift utility helicopters like Black Hawk, Lynx, or Hind. AW101 particularly so. This may be useful or it may be unnecessary depending on what they are expected to be used for.

[Pavelania]

Between Agusta Westland 101 and Caracal..? For air force, army use Black Hawk and Chinook.

For the Air force helicopters we use the UH-1 Hueys, including the new UH-1Y Venom gunship we just received, license built S-64/CH-54 Skycranes as our heavy lifters (PAC Helicopters bought a license from Sikorsky to build their S-64 model in Pavelania), AH-1 Cobras and new AH-1Z Vipers, and we operate the Mi-24 Hind-D as well.

Right now our navy is having a competition to replace our SH-3 Seakings. Original competitors were the NH-90, CH-148, EH101 Merlin, and the SH-60 Sea Hawk. The NH90 was the first to be turned down/disqualified, with the Ch-148, EH101, and the SH-60 remaining. After some analysis, the CH-148 was turned down as well, with the EH101 and the SH-60 remaining. Currently the Navy really like both the EH101 and the SH-60, both having great advantages. The Navy is currently still comparing the two helicopters to determine the best helicopter for the Pavelanian Navy.

[Taihei Tengoku]

AW101's express purpose is to replace Sea Kings...

[Pavelania]

SH-3 SeaKing


EH101 Merlin


SH-60 SeaHawk

[Gallia-]

AW101's express purpose is to replace Sea Kings...

>Replacing such a beautiful creature

or

>British
Not even once.

[Pavelania]

AW101's express purpose is to replace Sea Kings...

>Replacing such a beautiful creature

or

>British
Not even once.

[Pavelania]

I love both the EH101 and the SH-60. Hard choice for me.

[The Akasha Colony]

Right now our navy is having a competition to replace our SH-3 Seakings. Original competitors were the NH-90, CH-148, EH101 Merlin, and the SH-60 Sea Hawk. The NH90 was the first to be turned down/disqualified, with the Ch-148, EH101, and the SH-60 remaining. After some analysis, the CH-148 was turned down as well, with the EH101 and the SH-60 remaining. Currently the Navy really like both the EH101 and the SH-60, both having great advantages. The Navy is currently still comparing the two helicopters to determine the best helicopter for the Pavelanian Navy.

SH-60 and AW101 aren't even that comparable. AW101 is significantly larger and more capable than SH-60 and was designed from the beginning to serve as a capable naval helicopter. If you have space for it (which you will if you're replacing Sea King), then it's the better choice. If you do not (if you're operating ships without sufficient hangar space or whatever) then you don't have a choice and SH-60 is all you can fit.

[Taihei Tengoku]

AW101's express purpose is to replace Sea Kings...

>Replacing such a beautiful creature

or

>British
Not even once.

SH-3Y ;~;

[Pavelania]

Right now our navy is having a competition to replace our SH-3 Seakings. Original competitors were the NH-90, CH-148, EH101 Merlin, and the SH-60 Sea Hawk. The NH90 was the first to be turned down/disqualified, with the Ch-148, EH101, and the SH-60 remaining. After some analysis, the CH-148 was turned down as well, with the EH101 and the SH-60 remaining. Currently the Navy really like both the EH101 and the SH-60, both having great advantages. The Navy is currently still comparing the two helicopters to determine the best helicopter for the Pavelanian Navy.

SH-60 and AW101 aren't even that comparable. AW101 is significantly larger and more capable than SH-60 and was designed from the beginning to serve as a capable naval helicopter. If you have space for it (which you will if you're replacing Sea King), then it's the better choice. If you do not (if you're operating ships without sufficient hangar space or whatever) then you don't have a choice and SH-60 is all you can fit.

I thought the EH101 was an army helicopter first, then a naval helicopter second.

[Pavelania]

I may be wrong, but the SH-60 looks easier to maintain and I think the SH-60 uses the same engines as the UH-1Y, which we currently operate.

[The Akasha Colony]

I thought the EH101 was an army helicopter first, then a naval helicopter second.

AW101 was literally designed for the Royal Navy as an ASW helicopter to replace Sea King. That's why it's of similar size and that's why it has three engines. The British Army to my knowledge has never operated the AW101 and the Royal Air Force has transferred all of theirs to the Royal Navy.

I may be wrong, but the SH-60 looks easier to maintain and I think the SH-60 uses the same engines as the UH-1Y, which we currently operate.

AW101 is designed to be more reliable thanks to its three engines, which was a key design feature since ditching in the rough waters of the North Sea is often deadly. Three engines gives a broader flight and recovery envelope in the event of a single engine-out situation. It's also a more modern helicopter in the first place.

And AW101 can be equipped with the same GE T700 turboshafts as the UH-60 and newer UH-1 variants. This was demonstrated as part of the plan to adopt them to replace the Sea King-based Marine One variants until the program was cancelled.

[Pavelania]

I thought the EH101 was an army helicopter first, then a naval helicopter second.

AW101 was literally designed for the Royal Navy as an ASW helicopter to replace Sea King. That's why it's of similar size and that's why it has three engines. The British Army to my knowledge has never operated the AW101 and the Royal Air Force has transferred all of theirs to the Royal Navy.

I may be wrong, but the SH-60 looks easier to maintain and I think the SH-60 uses the same engines as the UH-1Y, which we currently operate.

AW101 is designed to be more reliable thanks to its three engines, which was a key design feature since ditching in the rough waters of the North Sea is often deadly. Three engines gives a broader flight and recovery envelope in the event of a single engine-out situation. It's also a more modern helicopter in the first place.

And AW101 can be equipped with the same GE T700 turboshafts as the UH-60 and newer UH-1 variants. This was demonstrated as part of the plan to adopt them to replace the Sea King-based Marine One variants until the program was cancelled.

Oh ok. I thought it was an army/air force heli first, then naval ASW second. But guess its the other way around

Yea I do like the 3rd engine on the Merlin compared to the Hawk. And yes I already knew about VH-71 with it being cancelled.

So guess that would be another plus for the Eh101 being able to operate with the T700.

EH101 also seems a little more capable then the SH-60 and has higher survivability then the Hawk.

[Pavelania]

BUT the SH-60 seems like it has a bigger variety of weapons than the Merlin.

[Pavelania]

I also love the EH101's better lifting capability and more powerful engines.

[Taihei Tengoku]

SH-60 is a squad-size utility helicopter first while Merlin/Sea King is meant to hunt submarines and haul a platoon. UH-60 is still a worse gunship than Huey though.

[The Akasha Colony]

BUT the SH-60 seems like it has a bigger variety of weapons than the Merlin.

That's only because the Royal Navy is too poor to bother integrating anti-surface weapons like Hellfire on it because they have other helicopters (Wildcat) for that role. It doesn't actually mean anything about capability. There is no inherent technical or physical reason why Merlin can't carry Hellfire or Penguin or Martlet or Venom.

AW101 is much roomier internally and that counts for a lot. It enables it to carry more ASW gear with larger operator's stations to make it more effective submarine hunter and its more flexible layout means that this ASW gear can be removed while aboard ship if the helicopter is needed for utility or cargo roles, unlike SH-60 which has fixed gear and thus an ASW variant cannot become a troop transport and vice versa. It also allows them to be fitted with other gear such as the Crowsnest AEW&C pod.

[Pavelania]

Yes the EH101 has a huge cabin compared to the Seahawk. I read somewhere that the EH101 can autohover and can perform a steady hover for SAR missions in very strong winds and rough weather. Thats a huge plus as well.

So then add some pylons and the EH101 could fire Hellfire missiles, penguin,etc.?

[Pavelania]

size shouldn't be a problem cause if we operate the Ch-53 on our carriers, I'm pretty sure we can operate the EH101 easily as well.

[Pavelania]

Also surprisingly, the EH101 is cheaper to buy than the SH-60S and SH-60R.

[The Akasha Colony]

Yes the EH101 has a huge cabin compared to the Seahawk. I read somewhere that the EH101 can autohover and can perform a steady hover for SAR missions in very strong winds and rough weather. Thats a huge plus as well.

So then add some pylons and the EH101 could fire Hellfire missiles, penguin,etc.?

Basic pylons already exist because that's how Merlin carries torpedoes. You'd need to adapt them and whatever to fit whatever weapons you need but the real time and work will be certifying that everything works. This is time consuming but not difficult.

EDIT: And can we please try to reduce the amount of double/triple posting? There's an edit function for a reason.

[Pavelania]

Yea and maybe some avionics and software upgrades to launch the new weapons. Wow more and more I'm being sold to the Eh101. Seems better.