“If the rule is 1 aircraft per thousand tons, how did the USN converted Essex CVs carry 60 F-8/A-7/A-4/A-3/S-2 aircraft on 42,000 tons max displacement?”

I would think that can be explained by the different ‘footprint’ of these aircraft:

F18E L=18.32 M W=13.62 M (wings folded: 9.32 m)
F-8 L=16.61 M W=10.87 M
A-7 L=14.60 M W=11.80 M (wings folded: 7.24 m)
A-4 L=12.29 M W= 8.38 M (non folding wing)
A-3 L=23.27 M W=22.1 M

E2C L = 17.60 m, W=24.56 m (wings folded: 8.94 m)
S-2 L = 13.26 m, W=22.13 m

now where’s the Barbieque- texas style (and I want a robin Williams “Good Morning Vietnam” one!!! 😉

http://161.58.5.90/vietnam/traffic.wav

Asturias has a RAS rig on starboard so can refuel its own escorts. Can carry more AVB8B. However, Garibaldi is better armed and thus less dependent on escorts. Did I mention she’s more aesthetically pleasing?

I am hoping for a combination of shtil-1 and Barak-2. If what they say about the range of barak-2 (70-80) km is true, then it would provide a decent air defence. Of course adding a few S-300 would be even better but might be wistful thinking.

If you have Barak 2 installed, adding Shtil 1 is just a waste of space and weight as the former missile would be superior to the latter in terms of range and – probably – guidance. Besides, I expect Barak 2 to be more compact and lighter than Shtil 1. Putting S-300 on this carrier makes no sense as this would take up even more space and weight, not just for the missile launchers but also for the Tombstone radar director(s). Instead of the Russian approach, which has carriers armed like a cruiser, India follows the ‘western pattern’ of carrier armament: light and purely for self-defense, much like a frigate. Medium and long range SAMs are then placed on escorting dedicated air defense destroyers/frigates

Defensive probably Shtil-1 or Barak-2 (maybe later). I doubt it will carry any offensive missiles other than on aircrafts. The standard Kh-31p/a and KH-35 with sea eagle for Mig-29k/NLCA/Harrier.

Judging from the models, don’t expect much more than either a couple of Kashtan’s or a Barak/AK630 combo on board the Gorshkov.

An ongoing part of ATE’s business is the upgrade of the ex-Soviet Mi-24 helicopter into what ATE refers to as the SuperHind. The core system is to provide an integrated mission system and night mission capability (using either a FLIR [from Denel Optronics Systems (DOS)] or night-vision goggles). Other equipment fitted includes a programmable counter-measures dispenser, a rotor track and balance system, and improved front cockpit instrumentation.

The SuperHind MK2 integrates the core system with the existing weapon system, including accurate rockets and bombs. The SuperHind Mk3 has a 20 mm turreted cannon (from IST) which replaces the Mi-24 fixed 30 mm weapon. This turret is integrated with the DOS helmet-mounted sight. The obsolescent missiles fitted are replaced by Denel’s Ingwe anti-tank missile. Other fittings include a new head-up display, a digital flight/voice data recorder and a hybridised Doppler/GPS navigation system.

For all versions of the SuperHind a wide range of other options is available from ATE and other local defence and avionics companies. Amongst others these include:
* The fire and forget Mokopa missile (Denel).
* Laser warning systems (Avitronics).
* Missile warning system (Avitronics).
* A Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) from AMS.
* Digital-based avionics.
* Flight management system.
* Sand filters (Aeroflo/CSIR).
* Infrared suppressors.
* Digital autopilot.

The final version of the upgraded helicopter supplied by ATE is the Agile SuperHind where extensive redesign and mass reduction raises the performance to that of modern combat helicopters of Western origin.

These extensive modifications described above turn the rather ordinary Mi-24 into a greatly-enhanced attack helicopter and ATE has the largest fleet of upgraded Mi-24 helicopters in the world.

Wasn’t the 7500 one of the designs offered to Singapore? They chose a different design obviously but IIRC this was offered to them.

Very possible, I came across this pic in a thread comparing this design and the design they currently operate.