V-22 escort??

[zab1001]

Bubba, google Jim Jones.

 

[TheBubba]

Zab, I thank thee... I have Googled and returned enlightened. Such is the way of the grasshopper.

 

[Brett327]

Bubba, google Jim Jones.

Kids these days.

Brett

 

[Angel18]

So is there no way to get a couple of .50 cals on the V-22?

 

[phrogdriver]

The interim fix is a ramp mounted gun. Longer term solutions, some incorporating very high-tech solutions will be incorporated as time goes on. This is what is called "spiral development," where you improve and retrofit improvements as they become feasible.

 

[ChuckMK23]

The interim fix is a ramp mounted gun. Longer term solutions, some incorporating very high-tech solutions will be incorporated as time goes on. This is what is called "spiral development," where you improve and retrofit improvements as they become feasible.

Phrogdriver is talking about the Block B examples of MV-22B. VMX-22 just received the first examples of Block B aircraft in December.

Other Block B improvements:

Retractable refueling probe
Updated NAV/COM/GPS and MFD's
Rescue hoist

Other good V-22 gouge:

VMM-263 will definetly go live in 2007
East Coast will get 10-13 new MV-22's every year for the next 3-4 years after 2007
HQMC says expect 26-36 MV-22B's annually

VMM-263 goes live first, then VMM-162, then VMM-266. For you kids in HT's there's your plan.

We'll see what that first float looks like

 

[Q-ball]

The interim fix is a ramp mounted gun. Longer term solutions, some incorporating very high-tech solutions will be incorporated as time goes on. This is what is called "spiral development," where you improve and retrofit improvements as they become feasible.

In other words, "No, we have seem to have forgotten about that, and maybe in a few years we'll come up with some kind of solution."

 

[phrogdriver]

In other words, "No, we have seem to have forgotten about that, and maybe in a few years we'll come up with some kind of solution."

No, as in, "The things that we're looking at are insanely high speed/next gen s**t." You can go crazy spending millions cutting holes in the airframe for guns that will be obsolete in 5-10 years, or you can get a good long term solution.

 

[eddie]

or you can get a good long term solution.

Long term solution = better guns??

 

[mmx1]

No, as in, "The things that we're looking at are insanely high speed/next gen s**t." You can go crazy spending millions cutting holes in the airframe for guns that will be obsolete in 5-10 years, or you can get a good long term solution.

How about no as in, "better to get this out in the fleet and in the hands of Marines now and work on the update than wait until the update's done."

Never let perfect get in the way of good enough.

 

[Flash]

Well, after 10 years it looks like the Marines is trying to get money in the 2018 budget to actually start developing the MUX (MAGTF Unmanned eXpeditionary) armed VTOL UAV about the size of the MQ-9 Reaper to 'escort' V-22's. And they want it to be ready in 10 years. I am curious how well UAV's will do 'escorting' V-22's, UAV's are ubiquitous over the battlefield now but they haven't really been used in an aircraft escort role yet and they don't usually operate well in contested environments. I am curious what the Marines on the board think.

 

[Uncle Fester]

Can you do it with UAS? Sure. Just not sure I get why you'd want to.

If you want to see something crazy, though, look at NGC's latest concept for TERN. They basically revived the old Pogo as a UAV.

 

[Malo83]

Escort! did I hear Escort!

 

[xj220]

The original concept aircraft looks and sounds pretty badass. It reminds me of the ORCA for anyone who remembers playing Command & Conquer (great game):

 

[Flash]

The original concept aircraft looks and sounds pretty badass. It reminds me of the ORCA for anyone who remembers playing Command & Conquer (great game):

I don't think the Marines will be happy until they get a UD-4L Cheyenne dropship, sans alien.