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

[Theodosiya]

For medium and heavy utility :

Army, UH-60M Black Hawk and CH-47F Chinook
Navy, Ka-32S and CH-53E Super Stallion
Air Force, AW 101 and Mi 26M


Opinions?

[The Wyoming Peoples Front]

Should I give helicopter pilots parachutes?

[Crookfur]

Should I give helicopter pilots parachutes?

It's a pointless as helicopters tend to fly pretty low and in the event something happens that might prompt a bail out there will tend not to be a safe means of exiting the aircraft.

In the event of an emergency in a helicopter you ride it to the ground with the pilot doing all they can to soften the impact.

The only exception is so etching like the ka-50 that has a rotor ejection system and zero zero ejection seats.

[The Corparation]

Should I give helicopter pilots parachutes?

No. Your crew would be better off attempting to autorotate down to a crash landing than they would be if they were to attempt to bail out.

[The Wyoming Peoples Front]

Thanks

[New Chilokver]

Can anyone give me a ballpark figure for the cost of a Tu-160?

[The Akasha Colony]

Can anyone give me a ballpark figure for the cost of a Tu-160?

It's never been sold abroad, so no. The USSR didn't contract or budget programs in the same way the US or Western governments did with a private supplier receiving a production contract from which cost data could be inferred. And the very small production run would have created an effect similar to B-2 wherein the program cost would drive up unit costs far above the normal flyaway cost.

Presumably it would have a cost in broadly the same range as any similar aircraft and the only one that can be compared is B-1. But there are lots of variables that affect pricing even here so it's only the very broadest of estimates.

[Allanea]

The last Tu-160 made cost $250 mln in 1993 dollars.

[Laritaia]

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

This is painfully untrue.

The HM.1 variant of the Merlin was so hideously expensive that it was more then 50% of the price of the entire Type 23 frigate weapon system, this lead to the moniker of "Flying Frigate".

[Arkinesia]

The Arkinesian Federal Air Force's primary air superiority aircraft is the PDC F-56C ‘Magnum’, which utilizes the DAMOLINK Datalink system employed by all Arkinesian forces. The MV-27 ‘Pegasus’ is a VTOL-capable logistical craft which allows for lightweight airlifting operations and airlifting operations into denied or dangerous territory. The C-50 Flying Wing heavy lift craft is used for large-scale airlifting operations.

Rounding out the bombing contingent, the AFAF's primary strike bomber is the RB-7A ‘Phoenix,’ capable of delivering up to 11,300kg of ordnance, and using extensive countermeasure support. The Phoenix can also carry up to four air-to-air missiles as a last resort. The B-70 Valkyrie is used for strategic bombing, though use of such tactics is very rare.

[Pavelania]

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

This is painfully untrue.

The HM.1 variant of the Merlin was so hideously expensive that it was more then 50% of the price of the entire Type 23 frigate weapon system, this lead to the moniker of "Flying Frigate".

AgustaWestland AW101/EH101 Merlin Price From Wikipedia: US$21 million (2009)

Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60S Price from Wikipedia: US$28.1M (MH-60S in FY2012) and US$42.9 million (MH-60R in FY2012).

So what does the $21M mean for the Merlin?

[The Akasha Colony]

AgustaWestland AW101/EH101 Merlin Price From Wikipedia: US$21 million (2009)

Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60S Price from Wikipedia: US$28.1M (MH-60S in FY2012) and US$42.9 million (MH-60R in FY2012).

So what does the $21M mean for the Merlin?

It means [citation needed].

But other prices for the Merlin drifting around the internet indicate ~$18-20 million for civilian variants, which means the $21 likely refers to the base helicopter with absolutely no added military equipment or features, and certainly not the actual ASW suite. Whereas the prices for the MH-60R and MH-60S are for their fully-militarized variants.

[Theodosiya]

So, my selections for rotary wings?

[Pavelania]

AgustaWestland AW101/EH101 Merlin Price From Wikipedia: US$21 million (2009)

Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60S Price from Wikipedia: US$28.1M (MH-60S in FY2012) and US$42.9 million (MH-60R in FY2012).

So what does the $21M mean for the Merlin?

It means [citation needed].

But other prices for the Merlin drifting around the internet indicate ~$18-20 million for civilian variants, which means the $21 likely refers to the base helicopter with absolutely no added military equipment or features, and certainly not the actual ASW suite. Whereas the prices for the MH-60R and MH-60S are for their fully-militarized variants.

So a Merlin with full ASW equipment would cost around $40-$60M? And can the ASW gear be taken off for transport use?

[Pavelania]

Either way our SH-3s perform ASW, SAR/CSAR, and medium transport missions. The SH-60 or the EH101 will have to perform those roles too if either won replaces our SH-3s.

[Pavelania]

So, my selections for rotary wings?

Well what roles do you want out of a helicopter?

[The Akasha Colony]

So, my selections for rotary wings?

What roles are the CH-53 and Mi-26 going to be used for?

[Theodosiya]

So, my selections for rotary wings?

What roles are the CH-53 and Mi-26 going to be used for?

Heavy lift utility.

[Pavelania]

What roles are the CH-53 and Mi-26 going to be used for?

Heavy lift utility.

For a Naval/Marines heavy-lifter I advise going for the CH-53K King Stallion. For an Air Force/Army heavy lifter, I advise going for the CH-47 Chinook, the Mi-26 Halo, or choose the CH-53K King Stallion for your Air Force/Army as well.

[Pavelania]

Anyways Pavelania has started a study for a Low-Cost Nex-Gen Tactical Strike Fighter by PAC and would be domestically produced and possibly exported. In other words, this would be the 5th gen fighter that will replace the F-01 series in the future.

So what do you guys think of the concept?

[The Akasha Colony]

What roles are the CH-53 and Mi-26 going to be used for?

Heavy lift utility.

What heavy lift things will your navy or air force be moving by helicopter?

The only reason the IRL US Navy has any CH-53s is for minesweeping. And the USAF had a few for CSAR and special forces insertion roles but has retired them. Your navy and air force likely don't have much of a need for heavy lift capabilities, especially since Ka-32 and AW101 both carry more than the U-60 Black Hawk variants the USAF and USN have managed with. They aren't moving heavy vehicles, whole companies of men, or slinging howitzers up mountains.

IMO, you might consider adopting V-22 variants instead of CH-53 or Mi-26, because the one advantage to these massive helicopters is their range, but V-22 has even better range and is faster. And ideally, you'd pick either Ka-32 or AW101 rather than use both, but it doesn't matter very much.

[Pavelania]

Heavy lift utility.

What heavy lift things will your navy or air force be moving by helicopter?

The only reason the IRL US Navy has any CH-53s is for minesweeping. And the USAF had a few for CSAR and special forces insertion roles but has retired them. Your navy and air force likely don't have much of a need for heavy lift capabilities, especially since Ka-32 and AW101 both carry more than the U-60 Black Hawk variants the USAF and USN have managed with. They aren't moving heavy vehicles, whole companies of men, or slinging howitzers up mountains.

IMO, you might consider adopting V-22 variants instead of CH-53 or Mi-26, because the one advantage to these massive helicopters is their range, but V-22 has even better range and is faster. And ideally, you'd pick either Ka-32 or AW101 rather than use both, but it doesn't matter very much.

Yea true. V-22 and AW101/EH101 are awesome efficient medium lift rotorcraft.

If you do need a true heavy lifter go for the CH-53K, CH-47, or the Mi-26. For a modern medium lifter go for the V-22 or the EH101. Not sure about the UH-60 or the Mi-8/17, but for an efficient modern medium lifter as said use the V-22 or the EH101.

[Laritaia]

It means [citation needed].

But other prices for the Merlin drifting around the internet indicate ~$18-20 million for civilian variants, which means the $21 likely refers to the base helicopter with absolutely no added military equipment or features, and certainly not the actual ASW suite. Whereas the prices for the MH-60R and MH-60S are for their fully-militarized variants.

So a Merlin with full ASW equipment would cost around $40-$60M? And can the ASW gear be taken off for transport use?

The HM.1 and HM.2 variants used by the RN can dismount most of the actual sonar gear and half of the operators console to make room for carrying personal and equipment, however differences in configuration mean that even after doing so they're nowhere near as good at cargo carrying as a dedicated transport variant.

[Pavelania]

Yea true. Maybe a purchase of some EH101s for dedicated ASW and some another EH101s for dedicated transport/SAR/CSAR.

Anyways What do you think of my Low-Cost Nex-Gen Tactical Strike Fighter design?

[The Akasha Colony]

Yea true. Maybe a purchase of some EH101s for dedicated ASW and some another EH101s for dedicated transport/SAR/CSAR.

Anyways What do you think of my Low-Cost Nex-Gen Tactical Strike Fighter design?

(Image)

As it stands, there seems to be no planform alignment and the high aspect ratio will give poor maneuverability and roll rate, although better aerodynamic efficiency and range. It also doesn't look like there are any serious impediments to radar detection of the engine; the DSI alone will not do much.

Where do the weapons go? The very small fuselage does not seem to have much room to carry them internally, with the inlet taking up almost the entire ventral surface.

A more conventional arrangement would be better. It's boring, but it works. And that's a valuable advantage, especially for a low-cost fighter. A low-cost design would usually emphasize the reuse of existing, known designs and technologies in order to minimize risk.