If it was up to you.....

[tashkurgan]

I think c22910 has a point, our troops need organic airlift capability and CAS cover assets rather than air superiority. Its all a question of priorities, I think the PC-9 will provide the AC with FAC and perhaps some CAS capabilities. Other operators of the type have been impressed with its endurance allowing it to stay on FAC station for long periods.

[pilatus]

u people r talkin bout the f16 and f5 but what about the mig29?in my opinion one of the best fighters ever to take to the sky!

[c22910]

Rather than talking about particular aircraft.  What roles do think any purchase should be capable of.

[Guinness]

Pilatus,

remmember the Paris airshow in 1989?

Guinness '>

[p.diddy.cool]

id be a gripen or F 16 man myself, i had a rather interesting conversation with a new friend who currently owns his own attack helicopters with weapons, he has seen action in Vietnam,(f4) Gulf war one, and is currently running his own firm.. somewhere! (wont tell he will shoot me in the face) ha ha

Regards P.D.C  

[sealion]

Quote (Guinness @ 22 Jan. 2004,10:40)

Pilatus, remmember the Paris airshow in 1989? Guinness '>

It has a great ejector seat. Have seen it in operation myself...

[Morpheus]

Were talking close in ground support....

we have a small force therefore we should forget large, purely ground attack jets like the A10 and go for a combination of fast light attack choppers,eg, Kiowa Warriors or slightly larger cobras and Apache, and for fixed wing attack, we should look at small jets and the Pilatus PC9s were getting will probably be up to it, but the best jet ground attack aircraft would be in my opinion at least the f-16D because of its multi-role capabilities as opposed to being strictly ground attack, it could also provide SOME airspace defence in ireland .

Large scale airspace  denial aircraft would be out of the question economically, we dont yet have anything like the manpower or infrastructure needs in place for larger modern aircraft. They will be supplied by other countries because the only theatre we will be involved in will be in a multinational force as a peace enforcement element.

[Guinness]

Morpheus,

welcome to the forum ( strange... I''ve said that quite some times over the last week?).

The IAC you're seeing in the future is looking a bit like the Royal Netherlands AF.
Also a rather small nation with all types of aircraft and Helicopters like F-16MLU, AH-64D. AS-532U2. C-130's a.s.o.

It has proven that the co-operation between al of these planes workes briljant.

If you ever have the chance to visit the RNLAF open days in July every year please do so.
On the flying display we always have an "airpower demo'' which involves ALL types of planes in our AF.
First a dozen F-16's will do a base attack (low level) and than about 10 AH-64D's are comming in to '' secure the area''
Next the CH-46D's and AS-532U2 are bringin' in ground troops.
And last but not least the C-130's come in to drop off vehicles etc.
The story is.... you're right on the combined task force but it'll cost a fortune to opperate.

Guinness

This whole lot will take about a 20 minutes demo which is fantastic.