V-22s With Forward Firing Weapons

Boeing and Bell are testing out a V-22 with forward firing weapons on it: aviationweek.com.... Seems like it could be deadly if the situation presented itself.

When in doubt, put more guns on it.

I also just noticed that the article mentions testing it out as an EW platform. Is the military really that desperate for EW support?

a reply to: justwanttofly

Nope there's never enough EW support. More is better IMHO.

Besides,

Didn't Sun Tzu say that the ultimate military strategy and victory is one where no shots are fired. or something like that. Seems to me like that's what we're doing. And when a Osprey lands in the middle of some ISIS base and unloads a bunch of marines and locks the place down before they can even respond or react the ISIS guys will be saying "how'd you guys get here? We didn't even see you coming!" And the US Marine will respond with "We Know"

I got a rock -

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Linky not worky.

a reply to: DAVID64

Link

OP "hot" linked it. Costs ATS money doing it that way.

S^F for taking the time to post the article... It is a normal progression to arm the V-22 with forward facing weapons IMO... The old B and then C model Huey's from Vietnam evolved into the Cobra and all that followed.. The HUEY M-21 system had 4 M-60 machine guns (2 on each side) hard mounted on side pillions .... It was primitive to say the least... Sighting was usually done by placing a grease maker "X" on the wind screen where the rounds impacted... Crude but, necessity is the mother of most inventions..

For some reason using a V-22 gunship for LZ suppression at first glance does not impress me.... However with it's load bearing capacity and the weapons of today it might work in some sand box war...

I would not want to be flying cover in one against a real adversary with modern weapons.. The Jordain pilot in his F-16 who was recently shot down in Syria probably thought he would be back to base for supper... So much for thinking ahead and daring plans, no?...

link is 404

Edit: Okay, another member linked a working page.

a reply to: justwanttofly

The fact that since they killed the EF-111 the Air Force has been sending crews to fly EA-6Bs with the Navy should answer that question.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Yeah I knew about that but I'd think that there would be better options for EW platforms, especially when going up against a modern IADS. Why not buy more Growlers- a purpose built(kind of?) platform that has had good success so far and stands more of a chance in a heavily contested environment instead of spending a bunch of money to test some new EV-22 variant?

a reply to: justwanttofly

Because SOCOM doesn't fly Growlers. They do fly MC-130s and MV-22s though.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

Didn't Sun Tzu mean that as more of an intimidation tactic. Like you show up and the enemy just gives up without anyone firing a shot?

Nevertheless, you make a good point about sneaking up with EW.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Ahh. I was thinking in terms of just Marine/Navy employment and not through SOCOM.

a reply to: justwanttofly

They've actually talked about using MC-130s as SOJ platforms after the B-52 SOJ program was killed the second time.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I know there's an ANG AFSOC unit up in PA that does a hybrid EC-130J/MC-130J mission...

I love this Aircraft, I really wish the British would operate it from the future carriers.

Retrofitted as an AWACS type or a palletised A2A refuelling system and now whilst F-35 are providing first strike of anti air and armour, gunship Ospreys are clearing the beach head whilst the Marines arrive.

a reply to: justwanttofly

Not to derail the thread but I believe Sun Tzu meant that in a broad way. Intimidation sure...but I think he was getting at the idea of the best strategy is to make your enemy come undone so you don't have to actually use physical force. How you achieve that goal is up to you whether its via espionage, foolery, intimidation, being so dynamic that you just swoop onto them and the fights over before it even starts. Manipulate their currency, manipulate their psyche, manipulate their culture so that they're not a threat. Sun Tzu was pretty open about how you achieve neutralizing your enemy.

Back to the EW Osprey. Why not? more is better when it comes to protecting your assets and troops. I like the idea of a Osprey that could go in with the rest that are carrying Marines or whatever and help cover their back by blinding the enemy or by laying down heavier support fire. Whatever it takes to keep that entry by troops onto their enemy as dynamic as possible to shorten their time span of vulnerability and achieve enough relative superiority so that the enemy has no choice but to suck it.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

An escort jammer would be a good niche role for an EW variant. Maybe they could combine it with some EW type weapons to make a nice little wild weasel esque helicopter/osprey package escort. Or maybe find a way to package the EW systems and keep the forward firing rockets for a nice one/two punch.

a reply to: justwanttofly

Yeah, it sure would be neat to have one of those.

*walks off whistling*

a reply to: justwanttofly
maybe I'm wrong,but I thought the osprey was INTENDED to be a hi speed transport vehicle,and short takeoff/landing.Now they want it to do offensive cover/attack?A cobra/apache/huey can do that...an A-10 can do that...Kill off the a-10 and use this setup? No way.Maybe an A 10 cannon on a v22,now that would be cool!

a reply to: blkcwbyhat

This would be more of a quick reaction force type setup. Get on scene faster than a helo, and provide cover until dedicated gunships were on scene.