The X-47B with the right sized carrier would make a formidable assault carrier.
In essence what I'm talking about is combining a high performance UAV with the Sea Control Ship concept.
The pluses are many. We separate manned and unmanned aircraft from the big carriers. We get the benefit of being able to jam pack the deck and the hangar below decks with aircraft. And last but not least.
When small wars popup that we don't want to be involved in but our allies drag us into anyway (a recurring theme throughout our history going back to WW2) we can simply send this carrier to do the work instead of an Amphibious Ready Group or a Carrier Strike Group.The UAV is the simple part...the hard part is going to be the ship. The most important thing about this is to NOT stray from the original concept. The original idea was for a 14000 ton warship. Steel is cheap but we shouldn't build a bigger ship just for giggles. This should be a one trick pony. Anything that doesn't help it accomplish its primary mission should be banished....no space for carriage of Marines or Special Operations...no allowance for operating manned aircraft etc....
The time has come, the idea has merit and we finally have the right piece..the X-47B.
It'll have to be larger than that to support CATOBAR ops.
ReplyDeleteEMALS will take care of it. once the weight of the UAV is dialed in getting it off the deck won't be a problem. since landings are computer controlled we won't have a problem landing it unless the hardrive freezes.
DeleteX-47B is only 3 tonnes lighter than an F/A-18C (MTOW 20t vs 23t). That's nearly twice as heavy as an A-4 (MTOW 11t).
DeleteAFAIK, the smallest CATOBAR carrier that could handle A-4s was HMAS Melbourne. (20,000 tons FLD)
EMALS plus computer controlled landings will help somewhat, but the deck structure still has to be strong enough to handle the pounding.
Now if we had pursued the X-45A, we might be in business.
you're talking old tech with steam cats. EMALS will solve that problem without worry. dial up the weight and it'll toss it off the deck. weight is no longer an issue. generation of electrical power is the problem now.
DeleteFull sized EMALS is 103m long - or over half as long as the SCS concept ship. A smaller EMALS could be built but how much smaller would you need? And remember you'll need at least two for redundancy.
DeleteYou'll need an angled deck of sufficient length to handle bolters (computers aren't perfect).
And how much hangar space will be taken up by all of this? How much weight will be added high up by thicker decks and the EMALS/arrest or deck?
I think you're looking at a bigger ship if you want a useful capability.
Just MHO.
You don't need CATOBAR if you use the F-35B and VARIOUS type UCAVs.
ReplyDeleteI would think the one additional capability to have would be the ability for SOFCOM to work out of it. The perfect scenario for using this on an unwanted mission sounds like the same scenario where SOF is going to be getting play time sneaking around in country. They don't need anything fancy, despite what they might want, they should be able to be put up in minimal, austere conditions that have minimal impact on design. Other than some spare bunks and a team room they should not require much, just enough for a way station or turn around point as they conduct their operations.
ReplyDeletehave you taken a look at SOCOM? they do need fancy. when you compare the gear that an average grunt wears to what SOCOM has and you're comparing a chevy to a mercedes benz. they demand more support than the law allows and demand the finest in life.
Deletetrust me because i've seen it first hand. SOCOM doesn't rough it anymore. the indoc might be brutal but after that is all gravy.
besides. SOCOM is headed for a bruising. arrogance is going to lead to a serious ass kicking for those guys. remember the SEAL attack on the airport in Panama? they got chewed up by regular infantry...not even up to US standards.
SOCOM works best against irregular forces but when they go up against a conventional army even their own doctrine says that they're not the force to send. additionally you're seeing terrorist groups getting more and more professional.
long story short you're about to see SOCOM get placed back in a can and used for only a few specialized missions. i see major cuts coming to that force once everyone gets over the hero worship.