RE: French S-3 Tankers?

Well, the French Navy already operate the E-2 Hawkeye. Which, is a very heavy aircraft. Does anyone have the loaded weight of a S-3 while operating as a Tanker vs a Fully loaded E-2 Hawkeye?

The French Navy does not want another American aircraft. The amount of life left on the airframe is not great, would most likely need a service life extention program. The S-3 having engines and other spare parts not used by the French Navy, so there would be a logistics problem also.

All weighs are lose approximations;

CH-46 MTOW -24,300 lbs
CH-53 MTOW -69,750 lbs
E-2C MTOW -57,000 lbs
F-35 MTOW -50,000 lbs
S-3 MTOW -52,500 lbs
OV-22 MTOW -60,500 lbs

Any carrier which can handle an E-2, will most likely be able to handle an OV-22 “AEW” variant also! This would give the small carriers airborne early warning. While the C.DeGaulle carrier could handle these aircraft I am not sure about the Prince DeAuturas or Garribaldi. The USN’s LHD’s can handle all of these aircraft except the S-3.

Adrian