Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!newstop!sun!amdcad!amdcad!military From: mark@jarthur.Claremont.edu (Mark Anderson) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Osprey and ASW Keywords: Osprey V22 ASW Message-ID: <1991Apr4.042029.11781@amd.com> Date: 2 Apr 91 03:20:38 GMT Sender: military@amd.com Organization: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA Lines: 62 Approved: military@amd.com From: Mark Anderson An attack of wild conjecture strikes.... What is the Osprey's potential as an ASW platform? Is it sized appropriately to be able to use the helo pad that the LAMPS use? For all I know it may be just to big to even consider fitting there, or too small to carry all of the electronics that is needed. If it could fit, could it work out as a decent platform, in terms of -Payload More of the above. Basically can the Osprey carry the proper payload, or is it too big/small for the job? -Endurance Maybe superior to LAMPS type helos? It is probably more fuel efficient to cruise like a fixed wing craft, but would ASW use it often enought to be useful. The P3 seems to be effective that way, but is that "THE WAY OF THE FUTURE" -Electronics/Avionics: Is the airframe suitable for electronic support, does it have the space for whatever avionics it needs? (I guess that I am thinking about such items as vibration (though they claim they have that licked) and electrical bus capability for all the ASW stuff. -Dipping Sonar Could you put a dipping sonar on the Osprey? Would the downwash from the props, which I hear is pretty fierce, disturb the water too much? Or could this be solved by using a longer line for the sonar or something, and staying higher up. -Speed This could let it get to an area fast, and then start slowly cruising, looking. The speed would I imagine help its usable max range, in terms of minimizing transit time, and thus crew fatigue. It seems like this could offer something with some of the nice features of the P3 Orion ( I think that's it) and the LAMPS helo. Unanswered questions include: Is this niche useful? Is the role of ASW helo typically employed so close to the ship that many of the nice features of the Osprey aren't really useful or needed? Would a scaled down P3 type A/C with dipping capability be useful? I imagine using an airframe which is being used for many other roles could simplify some of the logistics problems of a new aircraft, but how valuable is that? Is it worth the cost? I guess that I see two possible views of the role of the ASW Osprey. One would be a shipboard helo upgrade which had the cruise capability of a fixed wing craft plus hover and all that that brings. The other would be a P3 sort of A/C which would take away range and size in return for dipping capability. I know that this is blue sky, and reveals a great deal of ignorance about ASW, but I was just curious... blast away. -- Mark A. Anderson mark@jarthur.claremont.edu Platt Campus Center manderson@hmcvax.bitnet Harvey Mudd College uunet!jarthur!mark Claremont, CA 91711