Up Gunning The Air Corp

[pym]

Well I doubt it with the current numbers, unless it was an absolute dire emergency, but it will allow for better CAS training with troops before they go abroad as part of UN or EU RRF and possibly serve as a stepping stone to better things (more and more capable heli's)

[Bam Bam]

but will they be going overseas?

[pym]

I actually made a stupid error, I thought the issued pods were of 20mm calibre, they're 12.7, d'oh.

A cannon would be an interesting idea in itself, here's just one 20mm example: http://www.giat-industries.fr/asp/us/prod_nc621.asp

The idea of arming the 135's is a very interesting one and makes alot more sense than arming the 139's with SNEB in my opinion. Reading between the lines, it looks like an interesting future for the air corps.

[The Blue Max]

It was very recently said to me that the Air Corp is considering equiping the EC-135 with some form of Rockets (SNEB) or similiar. As I presume it would aid them in there {RISTA} capability?? Oh the only ever use for the PC-9M that would be using the likes of the Aim-9/Pirianhia (AAM) in Irish Service would be in a close quater situation performing some sort of Combat Air Patrol {CAP} or patroling an air exclusion zone such as during the EU head of state visit last may. What form of cannon could be visiable on the PC-9M or do you mean the 12.7mm gun pod??

[pym]

Hi, the first question that springs to my mind is whether sticking an aim-9m on a pc-9m makes any sense whatsoever? It's a very capable missile, but it's really designed for relatively close quarter a-a combat, something, it hardly needs to be said that the Pilatus is woefully ill equpped for.

In what context would a PC-9 need/fire a Sidewinder?

In my opinion the cannon is a better option for it in AA engagements as it allows the pilot to fire a warning shot that wont cost $80,000. It would be unlikely in my opinion that the pilots would have to engage anything more than your average turboprop. The only reason I can think of having the sidewinders would be as some kind of deterrant, and in the very unlikely situation of a Pilatus having to shoot down a jet

(Granted nimrods got sidewinders in the falklands war......)

The Casa's weapons capability, or lack thereof, has interested me for a long time - it is marketed (the MPA version that is) with air to surface missiles. It would be a massive and welcomed boost in capability. If more CASA's are ordered they should be armed in my opinion, although perhaps when the IRA weapons smuggling was still ongoing wouldve been the prime time for it...

As regards the AB-139, they will be fitted with door mounted machine guns. The military spec AB-139 mock up was fitted with rocket launchers and gun pods

[The Blue Max]

Ive read alot of threads that talk about what we should have (Gripen,Apache or A400M just as examples) and the usual response of Dream On!!!! but I have noticed very little talk of the actual capability we have at our finger tips for example the actual weapons fit etc that are aircraft can carry or what is capable of carrying for example

1. Pilatrus PC-9M carry can carry 12.7mm gun pods and SNEB (FFR) Rocket Pods but what other capability could it pocess?? I Have spoken to some Juniour Officers in the Don and I have been told that the PC-9M has the capabilty (not yet utilzed though) to use the AIM-9 Sidewinders and could probably carry the Pirinhia SRAAM carried by the the Brazilian Super Tucano's. But would it be possible for the PC-9M to carry any form of Air To Ground Missile (Hellfire etc..) or would the PC-9M be un compatable??

2.Casa Cn235 Persuader Is A fine aircraft and serves the Air corp very well in its role as a MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft) I recently read that the aircraft is capability (not yet utilized) of carrying some form air to surface missile (ASM) what form could they take Exocet/Sea Skua/Harpoon Or Maverick or is it known??

3.The Newly ordered Agusta Bell Ab139 and Eurocopter EC-135 have the option for ''Broad Spectrum Of Basic Weapons'' built into the contract, but what form would this be, would it most likely be 7.62mm gun pods and SNEB (FFR) Folding Fin Rocket pods similiar to those fitted to the Marrceti's or what type of weapons could these new aircraft take??

This thread is only query to the capability that the air arm of the country could carry and would not cost huge somes to obtain and use with these already Serving/Ordered aircraft.