The misadventures of AUKUS robot AlboGov never cease. I publish on subs, other naval,
nuclear weapons & broad political issues. Aussie sub changes are glacial: talk rather than actual new subs. The 1st Collins LOTE may secretly concern the US Combat System & be ready 2029. Trump may decide to cancel the AUKUS Virginia offer due to USN advice it needs all operational SSNs right through to the 2040s. My colleagues Shawn C and Gessler are excellent writers. Pete.
April 14, 2020
Loyal wingman drone Boeing developing for Australia powered up for the first time.
Could the Navantia LHD be a launch platform for the Loyal Wingman? In the past there was some investigation of embarking F-35B's, which was rejected due partly due to design limitations and the requirement for structural modifications. The Loyal Wingman's length is 11.7 m (as opposed to the F-35 at 15.7 m) so it may be an ample sized forced could be launched, without requiring structural modifications to the LHD (which already has a ski-jump ramp). Of-course the F-35B is a STOVL aircraft, and it is unknown if there would be enough length for the loyal wingman to take-off and land, but it would be interesting to find out.
A Navantia LHD in the Australian context means the 2 Canberra-class LHDs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canberra-class_landing_helicopter_dock
The Loyal Wingman is meant to be a wingman to a manned aircraft. So that most logically means a F-35B operating off the LHD.
Alternatively loyal:
- to a helicopter operating from the LHD?
- or to a long range aircraft (eg. a P-8?) operating from land?
Aside from that landing a Loyal Wingman onto a LHD would probably mean clearing the whole deck of helicopters and other Loyal Wingman as the LHDs have no Nimitz carrier like ANGLED deck.
Whole deck clearance would fundamentally alter most of the LHD's helicopter carrier functioning.
Also the Loyal Wingman looks quite a fast lander (very swept back wings).
2 comments:
Could the Navantia LHD be a launch platform for the Loyal Wingman?
In the past there was some investigation of embarking F-35B's, which was rejected due partly due to design limitations and the requirement for structural modifications.
The Loyal Wingman's length is 11.7 m (as opposed to the F-35 at 15.7 m) so it may be an ample sized forced could be launched, without requiring structural modifications to the LHD (which already has a ski-jump ramp).
Of-course the F-35B is a STOVL aircraft, and it is unknown if there would be enough length for the loyal wingman to take-off and land, but it would be interesting to find out.
Hi Anonymous
A Navantia LHD in the Australian context means the 2 Canberra-class LHDs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canberra-class_landing_helicopter_dock
The Loyal Wingman is meant to be a wingman to a manned aircraft. So that most logically means a F-35B operating off the LHD.
Alternatively loyal:
- to a helicopter operating from the LHD?
- or to a long range aircraft (eg. a P-8?) operating from land?
Aside from that landing a Loyal Wingman onto a LHD would probably mean clearing the whole deck of helicopters and other Loyal Wingman as the LHDs have no Nimitz carrier like ANGLED deck.
Whole deck clearance would fundamentally alter most of the LHD's helicopter carrier functioning.
Also the Loyal Wingman looks quite a fast lander (very swept back wings).
Grateful your views.
Cheers
Pete
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