January 28, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Is there an official replacement for the 2 sea kings currently in the Falkland Islands? Currently I think they do SAR and also do resupply for the bases located around the islands and probably any other missions that are required. The current SAR seakings in the UK are going to be replaced under a civilian contract, but I don’t think the Falklands are included in this contract.
If the replacement is still to be supported with a military service helicopter then this leaves open a number of options. I think these are the only helicopter type in the Falklands as I thought the chinook has been withdrawn for the afghan effort.
I sea the probable replacement being a couple of merlins but this would be a new role for them. Hopefully if they do decide on merlin they will purchase either 2 new anti submarine versions as the 8 used Royal Navy currently not in service are going to probably be used for AEW replacements for current seakings. Being fitted with the anti submarine equipment gives them the extra role of assisting in fisheries protection and sub hunting etc and be fitted with stingray torpedo, and machine guns if required. I would base possibly a fleet of 3-4.
Next up I’ve seen the lynx operating from camp bastion in afghan in the rescue role. I’m guessing they have winch for this role. Some of RN wildcats in the Falklands to me seems a very good choice. It could do SAR, resupply missions, use its high tech search equipment for sea surveillance and if required can carry stingray and the new anti ship missile and also machine guns. It can operate from the falkland patrol ship which i don’t think carries a dedicated helicopter and not sure if its big enough to operate a merlin. I would want to see 2-4 based there and an ability to be fitted with extra fuel tanks when required and to be new builds in addition to the 28 currently on order. They can operate as a spare for any ship that has helicopter problems when on Atlantic patrol south. If the griffin is currently suitable for SAR from Cyprus the AW159 wildcat should be big enough. Not sure of its lift capacity but I imagine can carry a 105mm gun, rapier, airlift a stuck land rover and any other equipment the seaking currently lifts.
The other replacement options could be any helicopter that has a SAR capacity but i would think that apart from a chinook or puma both unlikely or an S-92 as these operate in the UK doing SAR there is little cancer or advantage of introducing a new type to the area. Perhaps in the future if the oil hunting proves successful there could be a SAR variant of a type doing rig work as there would need to be some sort of helicopter support facilities for this but again this would be a good number of years away.