there is a small radome behind the FLIR turret. It is a pollution detection scanner ??
We also can see a MAD tail but is this bryza fitted with a sonobuoy launcher ??
Can it carry weapons ??
Because of the FLIR turret of the P-3 is down, I think that the japanese aircrew (not US, look at the roundel) must have nice pictures/video of this Y-8.
A Wasp LHD has a full displacement of 40000 tons (same than CDG). So, many countries have budget to buy and to maintain these ships. And there is no country apart US which has enough helos in its air force/navy/army air corps to fill a Wasp deck 😀 .
And why not 8 Embraer P-99s instead of 8 old mordenized P-3s? Purely budget consideration? Will these Orions replace or operate alongside P-95s?
But after all, it’s good to see these old warriors starting a new career 😎
JA: It was a SAAF Mirage F1 equipped with a Klimov RD-33 engine (the same engine as used in the Mig-29) by Aerosud. It was also equipped with Archer AAM. This development was named the “SuperMirage” F1. A potential buyer to upgrade its Mirage F1 is Lybia.
French navy uses a 375mm ASW rocket launchers since 1954. It’s a derivative of a Bofors system. 17 A69 light frigates (designed for ASW in coastal/shallow waters) have been fitted with this weapon. Currently there is only 3 A69 fitted with the 375 RL, the remaining A69 have a COMSAT antenna and a Simbad SHORAD instead. Belgian navy uses this system aboard its Wielingen frigates.
Charecteristics:
rocket lenght: 2.15 m
rocket weight: 302 kg
practical range: 3100 m
launch rate: 1 rocket per second
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