Does anyone know if any consideration has ever been given to acquiring a guided missile capabality for any AC aircraft?
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Air to surface/Air to air missiles
Collapse
X
-
I'd say the subject has come up, but look at the reality, broadly speaking the Irish Air Corps doesn't have a single military aircraft."We will hold out until our last bullet is spent. Could do with some whiskey"
Radio transmission, siege of Jadotville DR Congo. September 1961.
Illegitimi non carborundum
Comment
-
Originally posted by Turkey View PostI'd say the subject has come up, but look at the reality, broadly speaking the Irish Air Corps doesn't have a single military aircraft.Last edited by ropebag; 27 March 2014, 09:38.
Comment
-
@ropebag, that would depend on the AC's Casas having hardpoints in the wings and associated wiring harnesses. The PC-9s hardpoints/pylons are NATO standard so anything that's within a weight limit and has 14 inch lugs can be hung onto it. Now, you might have to add an associated computer and change software,too. You might even have to change pylons to hold a firing "shoe" for missiles. I was told years ago that they(the DoD) were considering funding newer unguided rockets for the Fouga's pods until someone pointed out the limited lifespan of such weapons and the idea was dropped.....the DF didn't enter the missile age until the Milan and the DoD always moaned about the cost of them.
- Likes 3
Comment
-
As they already have 70mm rockets for the PC9s (I believe?) what about DAGR, LOGIR, or APKWS, low cost laser guided weapons? OK, you would need to buy laser designators to "paint" the targets, but they would seem to be a "cheap" enough solution for the Air Corps.
Comment
-
Originally posted by ias View PostAs they already have 70mm rockets for the PC9s (I believe?) what about DAGR, LOGIR, or APKWS, low cost laser guided weapons? OK, you would need to buy laser designators to "paint" the targets, but they would seem to be a "cheap" enough solution for the Air Corps.
the great advantage it would have in Irish service is commonality with the existing, unguided 70mm rocket - you could use the guided rocket to destroy a specific vehicle or Missile/Mortar/Rocket firing point, and use the unguided rockets to flatten a compound or area of cover with dismounted troops occupying it.
Comment
-
What is the specific rocket make that we fire from the launchers?
I know its a 70mm, but is it a Hydra?
Also the launcher is the LAU 7 or something?"He is an enemy officer taken in battle and entitled to fair treatment."
"No, sir. He's a sergeant, and they don't deserve no respect at all, sir. I should know. They're cunning and artful, if they're any good. I wouldn't mind if he was an officer, sir. But sergeants are clever."
Comment
-
Originally posted by morpheus View PostWhat is the specific rocket make that we fire from the launchers?
I know its a 70mm, but is it a Hydra?
Also the launcher is the LAU 7 or something?
my understanding is that the above doesn't really matter - one rocket pod is broadly the same as the next rocket pod, and the AC could buy either Hydra or CRV-7's and their respective pods and have them operational the next day.
- Likes 2
Comment
-
hydras are blue? Ive seen photos of teh PC9m loadout on the ground infront of the aircraft and the rockets "looked" like hydras.
but then again, blue could just be the color used for test or dumb rockets... hard to find out the exact weapon system and ammunition.
http://www.irishairpics.com/iB_html/...s_hardware.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...a_70_M261.jpegLast edited by morpheus; 28 March 2014, 11:43."He is an enemy officer taken in battle and entitled to fair treatment."
"No, sir. He's a sergeant, and they don't deserve no respect at all, sir. I should know. They're cunning and artful, if they're any good. I wouldn't mind if he was an officer, sir. But sergeants are clever."
Comment
-
At the risk of stating the blindingly obvious, it makes a lot more sense to use "dumb" weapons on the range as it's easier to see the fall of shot, does not vaporize the target, makes post-firing cleanup easier and costs less, so without risk of opsecing us into cyber afterlife , I think it's safe to say what has been generally observed has been practice shots."We will hold out until our last bullet is spent. Could do with some whiskey"
Radio transmission, siege of Jadotville DR Congo. September 1961.
Illegitimi non carborundum
- Likes 1
Comment
-
Originally posted by Turkey View PostAt the risk of stating the blindingly obvious, it makes a lot more sense to use "dumb" weapons on the range as it's easier to see the fall of shot, does not vaporize the target, makes post-firing cleanup easier and costs less, so without risk of opsecing us into cyber afterlife , I think it's safe to say what has been generally observed has been practice shots.
as importantly, i've never seen anything to suggest that the IG has bought any guided weapons for the PC-9M's - no tender proposals, no Foregn Military Sales stuff from the US government, and nothing from the spotters who would, lets be fair, go doolally if they saw a PC-9 with anything other than the public stuff.
its also worth recalling that rockets have a shelf-life, and what gets used in practice tends to be the stuff thats approaching the end of its shelf-life - i rather doubt that Finance would let Defence buy (still expensive) practice weapons to throw down the range when theres a stack of super-duper Hydra's sat rotting in Baldonnell going tick-tock and that would have to be (expensively) disposed of when the magic date is reached.
possible of course, but not exactly likely.
Comment
-
when theres a stack of super-duper Hydra's sat rotting in Baldonnell going tick-tock and that would have to be (expensively) disposed of when the magic date is reached.
the day before that date arrives is usually a great 'mad minute'.........
Had the pleasure of having to dispose of a shit load of flares some years ago. made the 4th of July look cheap and nasty.Covid 19 is not over ....it's still very real..Hand Hygiene, Social Distancing and Masks.. keep safe
- Likes 1
Comment
Comment