Desenvolvimentos possivelmente interessantes... e se os Wildcat quase novinhos da RN acabarem para venda?
https://www.navylookout.com/axing-the-royal-navys-wildcat-helicopters-still-an-option-for-the-integrated-review/
Strike Deep
The 28 Wildcat HMA2 helicopters in service with the RN are a key enabler for the surface fleet. They are multi-role aircraft employed on anti-shipping and anti-submarine missions. More routinely, they perform reconnaissance and force protection work together with personnel and stores transfers, and search & rescue duties. The Wildcat AH1 is operated by the Army in the battlefield reconnaissance role and aircraft are assigned to the Commando Helicopter Force in support of the Royal Marines. Wildcats are also part of the Maritime Interdiction (MI) Flight held an exceptionally high readiness available to UK Special Forces, for counter-narcotics, counter-piracy and maritime counter-terrorism operations. (See our in-depth article about the history and role of the Wildcat).
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The most obvious loss in capability would be as a missile platform. The Martlet Lightweight-Multi-Role Missile is on the cusp of entering service and Wildcat aircrew are currently beginning to train with the new weapon. This affordable and effective missile is an important new layer of protection for the fleet from asymmetric threats and small boat swarms, particularly in littoral waters. The Sea Venom missile is also due to enter service on the Wildcat from 2022 and provides a stand-off capability to counter FIAC and small combatants up to corvette size. Funds already invested in Martlet and Sea Venom integration would be wasted, and at a time when the RN already lacks adequate anti-ship capabilities, the loss of the platform for these missiles would further eat away at credibility. Wildcat has limited ASW capability, not fitted with dipping sonar to localise contacts but it can still deliver a Sting Ray torpedo when cued onto the target by other assets.
Removal of Wildcat would place a further burden on the already over-worked Merlin fleet which comprises just 30 x Mk2 anti-submarine/Crowsnest aircraft and 28 x Mk4 troop transport/logistics aircraft. Frigates and destroyers deploying independently are especially reliant on their embarked helicopter and there are unlikely to always be enough Merlins to go around.A large number of skilled aircrew and supporting engineers have dedicated a good part of their professional lives to making Wildcat a success. Morale in the Fleet Air Arm would not be enhanced by disbanding 815, 825 and 847 Naval Air Squadrons, although some of the people could be offered other roles within the RN or transfer to Merlin squadrons. On the industrial side, Leonardo supports the aircraft under the 5-year, £271M Wildcat Integrated Support & Training (WIST) contract. This was signed in 2017 and is due for renewal, being critical to the company and the 500 people employed at RNAS Yeovilton and at the Yeovil plant. Wildcat has not been a great export success and Leonardo Helicopters future in the UK is already uncertain.
Not remotely an equivalent of the Wildcat with its load of up to 20 Martlets, but the Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER S-100 RWUAS would be a fraction of the cost. It has a range of up to 200 km and can be used for surveillance or could be ‘weaponised’ with two Martlets.
Filling the gapThe reconnaissance and surveillance roles of the Wildcat could potentially be a least partially performed by small uncrewed systems. The RN currently has no Rotary Wing Uncrewed Air Systems (RWUAS) in service but there are various options of different sizes and capabilities that could be purchased off the shelf. A demonstration of the SW-4 Solo optionally piloted helicopter was conducted by Leonardo as long ago as 2013. An aircraft like the Solo, potentially large enough to perform the personnel transport, special forces delivery and SAR roles is almost as large as a Wildcat and it’s hard to see how this would deliver substantial savings. Using RWAS in combat roles would present another level of complexity and cost, whatever the platform selected. Autonomous systems are sure to improve their capabilities in the next decade but for now, having a human in the cockpit is the only realistic way to conduct many missions.
Sea Venom could potentially be integrated with the Merlin but the aircraft already has more than enough tasks without adding anti-ship responsibilities. The RN will need to replace the Merlin fleet in the 2030s and rather than develop an entirely new aircraft from scratch, perhaps replacing Merlins with Merlins could be the answer. Deleting the Wildcat may, at least, provide headroom in the budget for the Merlin replacement plan.
Teeth v tail
Retiring elderly frigates for which there are not enough crew might just be tolerable, but removing Wildcat would appear to be a desperate measure that cannot be justified in the context of force modernisation. A more ruthless approach to non-front line costs must surely be considered. For example, the Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) costs the MoD around £90M per year (equivalent to running 3 frigates). This scheme provides up to £20,000 for personnel to send their children to private boarding schools. This was perhaps a sensible measure when dreamed up in the 1950s, at the time large numbers had lengthy overseas tours but today the majority of claimants, predominantly senior officers, have stable UK postings and don’t move around as much as in the past.
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While it is important that the right kind of conditions of service, perks and pensions are maintained to attract and retain people, particularly at more junior levels, there are other areas of support, administration and benefits that perhaps should be on the chopping block ahead of frontline capability. At this point, the deletion of Wildcat is not certain but even being forced to consider such an option, demonstrates that the management of UK defence still has a long way to go to get its house in order.
A ver vamos o que vai acontecer mas eu não estou a ver a Marinha gastar mais de 100 milhões em meia dúzia de wildcats, e isto se forem colocados á venda, pois, de certeza que outros operadores, se irão colocar na frente da fila para adquirir mais umas unidades e, os que sobrarem, se sobrarem, então sim, poderão ser adquiridos, mas não nos estou a ver com unhas para tocar essa viola !Abraços
