Osprey might be fitted with gun that achieves 360-degree field of fire

[unhappycamper]

Osprey might be fitted with gun that achieves 360-degree field of fire
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, December 12, 2007

WASHINGTON — The Marine Corps’ MV-22 Osprey might be getting more firepower.

The aircraft, which is currently making its combat-zone debut in Iraq, has the ability to hover like a helicopter and fly like a fixed-wing aircraft. It is meant to replace CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters, the Corps’ aging workhorse.

Ospreys come equipped with a gun at the ramp in the rear of the aircraft, but they might also get a gun with a 360-degree field of fire, said Marine Lt. Gen. John G. Castellaw.

“One of the options would be to install within what we call the ‘hell-hole’ — but that, that’s where the cargo hook is — a gun in there that would have the ability to shoot 360,” said Castellaw, deputy commandant for programs and resources.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Castellaw said the Osprey has significant advantages over the Sea Knight, most notably its speed and ability to climb rapidly, which means it requires less in the way of defensive systems.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=50912

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. oh goodie. let's find new uses to replace the old uses that never fit

ability to climb rapidly? but not even 70% of the original specs (which were downgraded to allow the contract to go forward). This thing has no armor (it would be too heavy to take off vertically if they added it). If you hit it with a rock, the props and engines will go. A simple 9mm bullet is enough to destroy the transverse transmission going through the wings (which was intended to power both props should one engine go out, but makes it such a complex POS that it doubled its maintenance requirements) and if it goes up or down too quickly, the vortex it creates means a) the props lose lift, b) the thing loses control, c) even if the pilot can get out of trouble, the engines and trans suffer damage from over-revving.

Disclaimer. I am no pilot, nor do I play one on TV. But a good friend is an engineer and a pilot and has had close contact with these beasts. He would never get into one, absent really good life insurance, a fatal, incurable, and painful disease, and someone holding a gun at his head.

He sums it up like this: The thing is a flying death trap.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

2. What good is a 360-degree f.o.f.

when you're wildly spinning toward the earth in what is referred to in military euphemism as a "terminal inversion" (crash)?

Have they worked out the kinks on this particularly problem-ridden aircraft, or has it been railroaded through to the Front along with who-knows-how-many other weapon systems that function poorly and provide contractors with years of spare parts contracts (still no spare parts programs for the soldiers themselves)?

While we're at it, haven't the much-hyped MRAPs made their combat debut? Any improvement over the hummers seemingly made out of tissue paper?

Equipping our troops properly, this is where our government has failed them all after putting them unecessarily in harm's way.

[catnhatnh]

3. They'd have to fit it with a Blow Job....

...and a Pint of Scotch before I'd willingly fly in one.