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2007-08-23 Iraq

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Posted by OldSpook 2007-08-23 09:35|| || Front Page|| [3 views ] Top

#1 Probably not in the Gulf, but in range.

My bet on where they are?

Swing position is the north Arabian Sea area, - gives them leverage over Iran (and also out of the easy operating area for the Iranian subs and aircraft), and can do Afghan support - and Sudan support if needed (with aerial refuelling).

Geography, what an important thing. If more people would look at the geography of the middle east, they'd see ho important Iraq is. Hub of the wheel.

Posted by OldSpook 2007-08-23 09:47|| 2007-08-23 09:47|| Front Page Top

#2 Bingo spook.

And with American bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran NEEDS to destabilize the countries to keep from being boxed in. Much like Syria too with Israel on one side and the US on the other.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2007-08-23 09:59|| 2007-08-23 09:59|| Front Page Top

#3 interesting hornet / super hornet mix; i would have thought there would have been 2 S/h sqdns. despite the press reports, there is very little commonality between the two airframes, and avionics are world's apart.
Prowlers from my neck of the woods, with the EA6B's getting old and experiencing the same wing fatigue / cracking that the Intruders had, they have to manage their assets very carefully, but beginning in 2010, there will be Growlers @ NASWI to help shoulder the load, and the Q's will be gone by 2013 (if current sked holds)
latest iteration of the Hummer is an awesome platform, new avionics, new engines, glass cockpit, but still ugly so you know it's Grumman.

Posted by USN, Ret. 2007-08-23 13:56|| 2007-08-23 13:56|| Front Page Top

#4 We been needing a 6B replacement for a while, and SH frame is a good one (plus it keeps up with the strike package), and it will strap up the AN/ALQ-99's, but...

How about workload in the Growler cockpit? That would be my worry. They gone to a 2-man crew like the old USAF Wild Weasel, and one of those is flying the AC. Thats short handed. And it means either more EW airframes needed or a lot more automation (which in EW, isn't always a good thing, past a given point).

Same issues hold with the F-35 when the Navy goes that way (And the USAF and F-22)

6B is the only proper crew-set EW strike AC left in US inventory. I'd rather we had something more akin to the old Ravens - them things got 'varks into places even God would have trouble going undetected.

IMHO:

EW aircraft are one of the few AC that need to be purpose built. Lash-ups just do not work as well as integral antennas, etc.

Posted by OldSpook 2007-08-23 15:43|| 2007-08-23 15:43|| Front Page Top

#5 OS, I agree, to a point; the Aardvarks were a maintenance headache and especially the escape capsule was a nightmare, but having said that, both that and the Prowler are about as stealthy as a freight train. And since stealth is sexy, the SH has it over both those platforms. while still AD, i got to do some low-observable work at NAS PAX on a variety of platforms and we were even able to make the Intruder 'Dim-out,' not invisible, but close. And the work we did on the Hornet and Tomcat would surprise a lot of folks.
all that aside, your next point about workload has me wondering also, especially since the Growler pods are based on the ALQ-99s, and I know that the 3 ECMOs in the Prowler can get a real workout. The 'G' is supposed to have the ability for the pilot to take some of that work, but he will need first of all to keep his eyes outside and the flying workload will be heaviest when they are also trying to manage multiple EW threats.
It will be real interesting when the Growlers get up and running and both the USN and USAF are hollering for assets how that gets handled.
your comment about 'lash-ups' is spot on: turning the lawn dart into an all purpose platform is just one of compromises. let me once again recommend the John Stephenson book: "Pentagon Paradox" for an expose' on the birth of the Lawn Dart. (out of print, but should be in most libraries).

Posted by USN, Ret. 2007-08-23 16:12|| 2007-08-23 16:12|| Front Page Top

#6 I hope HS-11 is successful in picking up Iranian diesel sub signatures drop a few sonar bouys and then plant a few cans on them for the fun of it. That'll keept the IRG in swimming lessons for a long time.

Posted by Jack is Back!">Jack is Back! 2007-08-23 16:41|| 2007-08-23 16:41|| Front Page Top

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