There’s a useful survey article here, starting on page 6:

http://www.armada.ch/Flip/issue6_2010/pageflip.html

In a high threat enviroment even the A-10 would be toast at low level. So, forget the AT-6B or any like aircraft………….

So USMC helicopters will not be flying into high-threat environments? Then they won’t need escorts. Problem solved.

Fully agreed, and it seems the only the PLAN is pursing such a strategy. But that is only an effective means of prevention. It does little to address the core issue of how to eradicate the pirate problem once and for all.

I don’t agree. If convoys succeed in preventing pirates from taking ships and holding them and their crews to ransom, it will eventually put them out of business. On the other hand, convoys could also be looked on as bait – ‘here are the ships you’re interested in’ – enticing the pirates to attack and providing the naval escorts with the opportunity to destroy them.

The broader socio-economic arguments I would see as outside the scope of a thread entitled ‘How navies can more effectively combat Somali pirates’.

I think it’s more relevant whether it can do Oman <> Sansibar, or something like that. Or if you’re talking Greater Europe, whether it can do Scotland <> North East Passage, or Suez from Gibraltar.

Don’t forget we’re coming at this from a position of having nothing, no maritime patrol aircraft at all at the moment, and virtually no money in the national coffers. The suggestion that something like the extended-range King Air be acquired is meant to be a cheap quick fix, to have an MPA in the air within the next couple of years, providing a basic surveillance, policing, and SAR topcover capability over UK waters. Talk of anything more capable, anything that isn’t off-the-shelf, means a wait of at least 5 if not 10 years.

Range & endurance aren’t the same thing.

Range 2,300nm, endurance 8+hours. Should be enough to cover the areas of most interest.

A cheap ‘n cheerful option to provide a basic maritime patrol and SAR top-cover option might be the Hawker Beechcraft King Air 350ER.

The basic aircraft costs less than £5 million, but you’d have to add another few million (?) for the mission equipment. Still an awful lot cheaper than the other alternatives, and the 350ER is already in service with the Navy:

…. Besides the USMC is not interested in the Super Hornet.;)

Why aren’t they? Apart from the possibility that it might undermine their case for the F-35B.

There is a good reason why the Royal Navy wants the JSF for it’s carriers. They are an offensive weapon and as such stealth is a wonderful thing to have.

In the unlikely case the F-35 get’s axed, I would bet the SH get’s additional orders. Only happens if the Chinese stop buying US bonds and by that have to write off their current investment.

In my opinion the perfect solution would be if the French buy the British surplus carrier in exchange for a Rafale order. Maybe some additonal stuff to make up for the price difference. (UK Paveway IV, Brimstone, whatever…)

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