AOR Replacement & the Joint Support Ship (Merged Threads)

[GR66]

What the heck is that supposed to be, anyway?

It's a seismic survey vessel - Ramform Titan (or a sister ship)

 

[Kirkhill]

Captain Drew Graham (Director of Naval Requirements) recently did a Speakers Event for the Naval Association of Canada and had some interesting information to put forward to the public regarding the JSS and an unmanned aircraft program planned for it. All of the information is taken from his slideshow, that I will link at the bottom for anybody interested.

- Heavy lift aircraft, will be able to lift a single loaded pallet of supplies and conduct ISR.

- Will be operated aboard Protecteur class ships and primarily utilized for vertical replenishment.

- Largely automated, "pilotless" operations.

- Operated by specially trained UAV operators, which are send alongside aircraft when tasked.

- Currently unfunded, 2031 to 2033 introduction timeline.

LX-300 is shown as a potential example photograph in the slideshow.

Some more info on the LX300. Interesting option. - 180 kg payload.

Dimensions

• Length: 2.9 meters
• Height: 1.5 meters
• Width: 1.2 meters
• Rotor diameter: 2.8 meters (CH-148 = 17.7 meters and CH-146 = 14.88 meters)

• Empty weight: 190 kilograms
• Maximum takeoff weight: 300 kilograms
• Payload: Up to 90 kilograms

Endurance

• Can fly for up to 10 hours without a break
• Endurance depends on payload capacity

Speed

• Maximum cruising speed of 210 kilometers per hour
• Best endurance airspeed of 140 kilometers per hour

Propulsion

• Continental CD-155 engine
• Can use F-44 (JP-5), Jet A, Jet A-1, and other fuels

LX300 Remotely Piloted Helicopter - General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada

A versatile multi-mission remotely piloted helicopter.

gdmissionsystems.ca

General Dynamics and Laflamme Aero to Showcase LX300 Customizable Unmanned Helicopter at CANSEC 2019 - General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada

General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada will showcase Laflamme Aero’s LX300 Customizable Unmanned Helicopter – a Canadian-built, multi-mission and multi-role unmanned helicopter that can perform missions over land and sea – at CANSEC 2019.

gdmissionsystems.ca

 

[NearingZenith]

Some more info on the LX300. Interesting option. - 180 kg payload.

Dimensions

• Length: 2.9 meters
• Height: 1.5 meters
• Width: 1.2 meters
• Rotor diameter: 2.8 meters (CH-148 = 17.7 meters and CH-146 = 14.88 meters)

• Empty weight: 190 kilograms
• Maximum takeoff weight: 300 kilograms
• Payload: Up to 90 kilograms

Endurance

• Can fly for up to 10 hours without a break
• Endurance depends on payload capacity

Speed

• Maximum cruising speed of 210 kilometers per hour
• Best endurance airspeed of 140 kilometers per hour

Propulsion

• Continental CD-155 engine
• Can use F-44 (JP-5), Jet A, Jet A-1, and other fuels

LX300 Remotely Piloted Helicopter - General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada

A versatile multi-mission remotely piloted helicopter.

gdmissionsystems.ca

General Dynamics and Laflamme Aero to Showcase LX300 Customizable Unmanned Helicopter at CANSEC 2019 - General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada

General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada will showcase Laflamme Aero’s LX300 Customizable Unmanned Helicopter – a Canadian-built, multi-mission and multi-role unmanned helicopter that can perform missions over land and sea – at CANSEC 2019.

gdmissionsystems.ca

Given the comparatively small dimensions of the LX300, I’m guessing there’s enough room to house them alongside 2 x CH-148 in the hanger? Or maybe there’s enough open space to launch and maintain them from a shipping container on the main deck? UAS are certainly useful as an additive capability alongside the helos, but it doesn’t seem worthwhile to lose the ASW, pax transfer, and larger payload capabilities of a helo if 1 x CH-148 needs to be given up to fit UAV in the hanger.

 

[Baz]

Given the comparatively small dimensions of the LX300, I’m guessing there’s enough room to house them alongside 2 x CH-148 in the hanger? Or maybe there’s enough open space to launch and maintain them from a shipping container on the main deck? UAS are certainly useful as an additive capability alongside the helos, but it doesn’t seem worthwhile to lose the ASW, pax transfer, and larger payload capabilities of a helo if 1 x CH-148 needs to be given up to fit UAV in the hanger.

It might not matter… it might make sense to structure all 12 Wing deployments for the conceivable future around single aircraft, two crew, 12 hour deck cycle. Especially since there are fewer dets available than ships that can embark them. Use the extra space for whatever. We already had the conversation that 2nd line at sea is not really in the offing anyway.

 

[Furniture]

It might not matter… it might make sense to structure all 12 Wing deployments for the conceivable future around single aircraft, two crew, 12 hour deck cycle. Especially since there are fewer dets available than ships that can embark them. Use the extra space for whatever. We already had the conversation that 2nd line at sea is not really in the offing anyway.

That sort of work between UAS and helo is going to require an increase in support staff like SACs. It's great to bring in new toys, but if the people who enable you to operate the toys aren't considered, things can go off the rails pretty fast.