Read a post from a US infantryman just back from Afghanistan, where he said that 75% of their CAS came from these:
There’s just too much risk and cost associated with something like the F-35B, and in any case, the USMC won’t be re-fighting Guadalcanal ever again.
Maybe as a stop-gap measure the RN/RAF should get a few more King Air 350ERs, suitably equipped? (The Navy are getting four of them for naval oberver training, and the RAF also use them for training and ISTAR work.)
Hawker Beechcraft do market an MPA version of the 350ER, which costs a small fraction of most other maritime patrol aircraft.
Can’t imagine the crews being delighted to fly over the sea for hours with only two engines……
Tell that to the US Navy
And most airliners crossing the Atlantic these days only have two engines. Four engines are soooooo 20th century :diablo:
There seems to be a shift towards ‘out of area’ activities. Sweden recently sent HMS Carlskrona to join the EU’s Op Atalanta’s fleet off the Somali coast. It started life as a minelayer but has been converted into a command and patrol vessel.
Finland is following a similar path: the minelayer Pohjanmaa will be joining the EU force in the New Year.
Sign In
