Posted on 06/10/2008 4:39:34 PM PDT by SandRat
AL ASAD — As the second MV-22 Osprey squadron to deploy to a combat zone, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, continues to build on the Osprey’s strengths and versatility in Iraq.
The MV-22 Osprey is the Marine Corps’ newest airframe and is poised to shoulder the responsibility as the Marine Corps’ sole medium lift helicopter platform in the future.
“When you have an aircraft with the lift capacity that the MV-22 has, and that can move troops or cargo in a safe and timely manner to your entire area of responsibility, your stock value tends to go up exponentially,” said Maj. Craig Leflore, MV-22 pilot and aircraft maintenance officer, VMM-162.
Staff Sgt. Ted Karp, MV-22 crew chief, VMM-162, attributes a large part of the Osprey’s success to its extended range and speed, completing the same amount of work as traditional medium lift helicopters over a greater distance in less time.
“It combines the capabilities of a turbo prop airplane and the versatility of a conventional helicopter,” said Karp, a Crawford, Colo., native. “I like the fact that it will get Marines to and from the fight faster.”
Leflore, a Tyler, Texas native, has a laundry list of reasons he likes the newly fielded airframe: the ability to use high altitudes as a tactical advantage, staying above the
threat of small arms, increased reaction time and the aeronautical advantage of increased options when dealing with weather.
“It (the Osprey) expands our over-the-horizon launch capability and enables us to take the fight to our enemy’s front door wherever that may be; a runway, landing zone or the middle of the desert,” concluded Leflore.
It's not an attack aircraft. It's a transport aircraft.
CNN did a story on it......said it never really got tested.
It was supposed to land in combat zones to deliver or evacuate soldiers. Those situations didn’t occur too often, if at all.
Also, it doesn’t have too many weapons to protect itself and as of now, SPEED is its main weapon in getting away fromt the enemy.
They are thinking about adding more Maching Guns in the front.
The Osprey’s primary role is a transport. I don’t think it has any offensive capabilities.
I know it’s mostly transport, but they were suppose to get a 360 degree mini gun - 3000 rounds per minute with a 1000 meter range.
guess not.
It’s a Marine Aircraft..... They will find a way to mount weapons on it. even if it means they duct tape a couple of grunts to the engine Pods.
It's already been field trialed. (:^o)
**************
NOT BAD!!
THIS MODEL HAS A "MINI" -- GUN
***********
Enjoy!!
CNN is full of s***.
If it delivers our Marines to a combat zone, it is an attack aircraft! :-)
Now that is what I am talking about. Change it to a 20mm and fill the cargo Bay with ammo and you have one hell of a gun ship.
You know a system that is that fast and mobile is going to be dragged into the hot zone sooner or later, just as the humvee has had to be up-armored. If, during WW I, machine guns could be synchronized to fire through the prop (and imagine how scary that must have been for the test pilot to pull the trigger on that system back then), the geniuses we have now ought to be able to design a killer defensive system that won't shoot the rotors off the Osprey.
The geniuses at BAE Systems did design a system that ties into the flight control system, so it can map “no shoot” areas based on the positioning of the nacelles.
The Guardian system was designed by BAE Systems to be a remotely controlled gun for vehicles. They simply mount it ‘upside down’ for use in the Osprey’s two hell holes. They entire system is designed to be easily removed for sling load duty.
This is an ‘interim solution’ to replace the cancelled chin mounted gun system. Methinks it will become permanent on all of the USAF SOCOM CV-22Bs, and eventually on maybe half of the Marine Corps MV-22Bs.
The Remote Guardian system will be in addition to the ramp mounted gun. Of course, the one drawback of the Remote Guardian is that it must be retracted back into the aircraft during landing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.