AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

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Ron5
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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Post by Ron5 »

Timmymagic wrote:There's no radar on the Army's Wildcat.
Yet.

Lord Jim
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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Post by Lord Jim »

Timmymagic wrote:What would you strip out? There's no radar on the Army's Wildcat. The E/O system is incredibly useful and is pretty much a standard fit on all military helicopters. It's pretty much an enhanced AH.9 as is.
.

If that is the case then lets just assign them all to 16 Brigade as integral aviation support and leave it a that.

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SKB
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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

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Lord Jim
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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Post by Lord Jim »

Well I suppose the FAA/RM Commando Helicopter Unit could keep its few Wildcats as well.

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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Post by bobp »

A pair of wildcats on way to join the fleet somewhere off Scotland......


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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

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donald_of_tokyo
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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Post by donald_of_tokyo »

Glad to see torpedo delivery task is still important for Wildcat in future.

A question as "Can it carry 4 Stingray at max?" comes out to me, but I myself have an answer "in ASW tactics, assets rarely deliver more than 2 AS torpedos".

As we know carrying armaments (even carrying dipping sonar) significantly reduces Wildcat's endurance. "Not needed things" shall better not be carried.


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SKB
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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

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(Navy Lookout) 5th May 2021
Wildcats of 815 Naval Air Squadron taking off in formation as they deployed for 7 months with the Carrier Strike Group on 1st May 2021.
Video: Royal Navy / RNAS Yeovilton

Ron5
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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Post by Ron5 »

I wonder what's happened to the idea of fitting radars to Army Wildcat. I seem to remember a trial.

Anyhow, here's an article published yesterday on the Aviation Brigade.

https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events ... emy-lines/

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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Post by Tinman »

Ron5 wrote:
Timmymagic wrote:There's no radar on the Army's Wildcat.
Yet.
Won’t be, ever.

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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

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From Air International Dec 2018. I also read about it in Soldier Magazine.

It's also been reported that the Army Wildcats retain wiring for a radar but I'm not sure how accurate that is.
Joint Helicopter Command’s Commanding Officer, Rear Admiral Jonathan Pentreath, reckons the Wildcat is a success story for both the Army and Navy. He said: “Wildcat represents a clear step change in capability. There has never been any doubting the capability of the Royal Navy HMA2 with its Selex Seaspray radar and a comprehensive suite of mission systems. Our operational testing, including that alongside Apache, confirms the Army variant has really come of age during the last 12–18 months. For example, four Wildcat AH1s [assigned to 661 Squadron] completed a successful four-month deployment to Amari Air Base, Estonia, supporting a battlegroup and participating in Exercise Siil [a large mobilisation exercise for the Estonian Defence Forces]. This was the Wildcat AH1’s first operational deployment. It went well and proved the value of deploying a small number of aircraft to areas where they are seen by potential competitors. In July 2018, two Wildcats from 847 NAS also concluded a ive-month deployment to the Far East for Exercise Jeanne d’Arc aboard the French assault ship, FS Dixmude [L9015] with no issues.”

The helicopters deployed alongside Royal Marines to develop the British-French rapidly deployable Combined Joint Expeditionary Force. Tasking involved lying reconnaissance, and board-andsearch missions.

Tests involving Wildcat during the summer included the first successful launch of two AGM-114 Hellire airto- surface missiles by an Apache AH1 against a target designated by a Wildcat, confirmation of the Apache AH1-Wildcat AH1 teaming. This concept will be further enhanced when the AH-64E replaces the legacy Apache AH1 from 2022.

Addressing Wildcat AH1 mission system enhancements, Rear Admiral Pentreath confirmed they are under consideration. He said: “Our initial concept was of Wildcat hunting targets ahead of the Apache, but what we are inding more efective is Wildcat stepping back, using its multispectral sensor to direct the Apache on to its target. During the autumn, we conducted operational tests with the Seaspray radar. It will be fantastic having synthetic aperture and ground moving target indicator, which should allow us to markedly extend our capability for a relatively small investment.”

Rear Admiral Pentreath confirmed that future operational priorities for the Wildcat AH1 are introduction of a tactical datalink, increased endurance and a radar in that order. Given the radar is tried and tested, operationally efective and in service, incorporating it should be relatively easy and cheap to do. Arming its Wildcat AH1s further is not a priority at this time.

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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Post by Tempest414 »

wild to get link 16 at last

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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Post by Ron5 »

Tantalizing hint on radar for the army Wildcats ..

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/air- ... helicopter

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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Post by Timmymagic »

Ron5 wrote:Tantalizing hint on radar for the army Wildcats ..
With Link 16 also on the way (should be easy as SK have already had it fitted) you have to wonder if AAC Wildcats might also see the Weapons Wing arrive as well...adding Martlet would be good...mind you we really need to up the quantity bought, 1,000 missiles spread across the forces isn't a massive number, particularly if we're planning to use them to swat down small UAV's.

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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

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The link 16 news presumably buried in the Janes report ..


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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Post by SW1 »

A return to how it was originally spec’d before the army deleted it

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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Post by donald_of_tokyo »

Data link ! Great! Let's hope it moved forward.

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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Post by Ron5 »

Still think a navalized AW149 (Puma replacement candidate) would make a great ships helicopter to supplement RN Wildcat.

Cut and paste the Wildcat nose with radar & EO, add folding blades and Bob's your uncle.

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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Post by Lord Jim »

Well we can always navalise a number to supplement the Army Wildcats that directly support the Royal Marines. If we take up the armed option on these as well, we could give our planned LSGs some organic air support, with the Wildcats carrying out their scout role and the Puma replacement providing the firepower as well as retaining the ability to move units of a size that do not require a Merlin. Off on a wishful thinking jaunt again. :D

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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

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Lord Jim wrote:Well we can always navalise a number to supplement the Army Wildcats that directly support the Royal Marines. If we take up the armed option on these as well, we could give our planned LSGs some organic air support, with the Wildcats carrying out their scout role and the Puma replacement providing the firepower as well as retaining the ability to move units of a size that do not require a Merlin. Off on a wishful thinking jaunt again. :D
Well the AW149 being shown at DSEI did have a rocket launcher fitted to one side and it's been shown carrying Brimstone in the past!!
Image

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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Post by Lord Jim »

I really miss going to DSEI. :cry:

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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Post by J. Tattersall »

Ron5 wrote:Still think a navalized AW149 (Puma replacement candidate) would make a great ships helicopter to supplement RN Wildcat.
Interesting point, does anyone know if Leonardo has proposed a navalised version? Not a trivial task, but interesting none the less.

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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Post by Ron5 »

J. Tattersall wrote:
Ron5 wrote:Still think a navalized AW149 (Puma replacement candidate) would make a great ships helicopter to supplement RN Wildcat.
Interesting point, does anyone know if Leonardo has proposed a navalised version? Not a trivial task, but interesting none the less.
Long time ago they said they wanted to do that but the challenge was adding navalized kit such as folding rotors and tail might hike the price up to where it competes with NH90.

Not a trivial task true, but not that hard either. The AW149 composite body and the firms expertise greatly helps. AW claim very few components are not seawater resistant. Interestingly, Egypt bought some unmodified to operate from their gater navy.

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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Post by J. Tattersall »

Ron5 wrote:
J. Tattersall wrote:
Ron5 wrote:Still think a navalized AW149 (Puma replacement candidate) would make a great ships helicopter to supplement RN Wildcat.
Interesting point, does anyone know if Leonardo has proposed a navalised version? Not a trivial task, but interesting none the less.
Long time ago they said they wanted to do that but the challenge was adding navalized kit such as folding rotors and tail might hike the price up to where it competes with NH90.

Not a trivial task true, but not that hard either. The AW149 composite body and the firms expertise greatly helps. AW claim very few components are not seawater resistant. Interestingly, Egypt bought some unmodified to operate from their gater navy.
Of course as soon as you change the rotor head for a folding version (and not quite sure if a cab that size could be manually folded at sea, i.e. powered head) then you're into time consuming and very expensive flight test to requalify the aircraft.

Also not sure whether the current oleos are qualified for higher vertical loads for naval ops, and if operated from DD/FF or smaller then deck lock system probably needed. Also not sure if the current land based version comes with flot gear, life-raft, SARbe, appropriate crew emergency egress etc. etc. Clearly none of this impossible but time, cost and all racking up the empty mass of the aircraft.

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Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Post by Lord Jim »

Does the Wildcat have flotation gear? Adding a folding rotor, powered or manual would also help when flying the platform out of area in a C-17 or Atlas. If the AW149 is in line to be operated by the SF and the SFSG then having it marinized, or at least some of them, makes sense. I wonder if an AW149 could carry four Sea Venom?

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