What low tech aircraft weapon systems are still valuable on the modern battlefield?
What use would the PC-9s HMGs and Rockets be even in a COIN role? Rockets are good against vehicles, trucks and armour but most of these things are features of a modern high intensity force which is IMHO well out of a PC-9s depth.
12.7mm MGs have a relatively low rate of fire and lack the effectiveness of a cannon round?
So apart from Gormanstown beach we have no potential opponent that our weapons fit would be of use against.
On the other hand iron bombs and cannon are expensive and heavier but considerably more flexible in a COIN, CAS role.
Firstly Iron bombs delivered into a contact do not need a pinpoint target (i.e. a truck or bunker), they have a far greater area effect than rockets and only an MBT requires a direct hit to K-Kill it.
The downside is collateral damage, which shouldnt be an issue in its "likely" deployments by the DF as a battle joiner rather than a strike aircraft.
Cannon, offer the problem of a greater force endured by the airframe on firing but compared to MGs at least offer a considerable fire power enhancement both for one pass penetration attempts and strafing of dispersed or snap targets.
Then there is the seperate issue of weapons systems on non optimised helicopters, machine guns are the most common self defence system and hopefully would be considered a given on any future TTH type.
That said is there a role for suppressive weapons such as cannon or FFARs to allow for the temporary pacification of a landing zone or should TTH operations stay out of the realm of air assault altogether and restrict commaders airmobility to a safe distance from the FEBA.
