Originally Posted by pinemartin

looks like an upgraded lynx. Is t a new chopper or a revamp of an existing design?

however much wastelands might protest, its a revamp of Lynx.

i'm sure its great - but Wildcat puzzles me as a concept. almost all of the RN's ships have flight decks big enough to take Merlin, which is the prefered shipboard helicopter, and which the RN has enough of to fulfill the role. for the Army, Apache is the stick of choice, UAV's the ISTAR platform of choice, and the RAF's Chinook and Puma force the lifter of choice. so what role does Wildcat have - and certainly what role does Wildcat have at the kind of price were paying for it?

£26m for a helicopter that can't, and won't, carry much, can't fire much, and can't see much?

Originally Posted by sidney higginbottom

however much wastelands might protest, its a revamp of Lynx.i'm sure its great - but Wildcat puzzles me as a concept. almost all of the RN's ships have flight decks big enough to take Merlin, which is the prefered shipboard helicopter, and which the RN has enough of to fulfill the role. for the Army, Apache is the stick of choice, UAV's the ISTAR platform of choice, and the RAF's Chinook and Puma force the lifter of choice. so what role does Wildcat have - and certainly what role does Wildcat have at the kind of price were paying for it?£26m for a helicopter that can't, and won't, carry much, can't fire much, and can't see much?

I see the Royal Navy are taking 28 of them from 2015 so I can only surmise there is a future requirement for them, is there not a smaller (than Type 45) escort class in the offing, perhaps too small for Merlin?

Originally Posted by likesfish

Wildcat is a great answer for something to go sub hunting launching missiles at enemy boats and brassing up somali pirates.
Its a lousy battlefield helicopter.
Blackhawk or the uhy-1 venom a much better idea and cheaper too.
But thats not keeping wastelands in exsistance.
We must subsidise are last reaing helicopter factory so it can continue to fleece us*

The westland apache works better than the us apache in afghanistan but as it was built to take on the russian hordes in west germany thats more of an accident than planning

The main difference between the US and UK versions of the Apache I think is that the UK has a gatling gun strapped to theirs making it more of a battlefield weapon for the likes of Afghan. Although it still has the ability to sit in the air and destroy a target with a missile from 5 clicks away. I have seen footage of the British Apaches taking out a lone gunman with with a circa £100k missile from 5 clicks - hardly a great return for the taxpayer.

Originally Posted by sidney higginbottom

£26m for a helicopter that can't, and won't, carry much, can't fire much, and can't see much?

Ah come off it. It is a much more multi-role helicopter than the others from search and rescue to submarine search and destroy. It looks particularly well equipped for the new Naval battlegroups. It costs a good bit less than an Apache while being able to perform a lot more tasks.

Originally Posted by gijoe

The main difference between the US and UK versions of the Apache I think is that the UK has a gatling gun strapped to theirs making it more of a battlefield weapon for the likes of Afghan.

I'm pretty sure the US version has the 30mm cannon as well?

Although it still has the ability to sit in the air and destroy a target with a missile from 5 clicks away. I have seen footage of the British Apaches taking out a lone gunman with with a circa £100k missile from 5 clicks - hardly a great return for the taxpayer.

If it saves the life of ONE British soldier then it was worth it, it's only money after all.

The wasteland apache has better engines better defensive aids and more modern tech us forces are quite jealous for lone gunmen The helicopter can kill them from 4k away with the gun its stabilised and has a fancy video sight.
Something i cant belive its not the ira might want to think about before starting anything.
Lynx fits on frigates better than merlin and can fit in hangers and be worked on.
Ideal small naval helicopter notvreally a role with the army

Originally Posted by sgtharper

I see the Royal Navy are taking 28 of them from 2015 so I can only surmise there is a future requirement for them, is there not a smaller (than Type 45) escort class in the offing, perhaps too small for Merlin?

The Type 26 Frigate is still on the drawing board but will most likely be larger then the 23's they're replacing. The Type 23 has a Merlin so I don't see any chance of the hanger being to small (particularly if they want some troop lift. The Wildcat's might be for the RFA hulls or the Amhib ships and the smaller OPV hulls.

Originally Posted by sparky42

The Type 26 Frigate is still on the drawing board but will most likely be larger then the 23's they're replacing. The Type 23 has a Merlin so I don't see any chance of the hanger being to small (particularly if they want some troop lift. The Wildcat's might be for the RFA hulls or the Amhib ships and the smaller OPV hulls.

Yes I see what you mean, I've had a look on Google and it supports what you say. I was surprised to see that a Type 23 can take a Merlin though. Well as far as the RN's purchase of Wildcat is concerned I can only assume that there is a role and requirement for them?

Originally Posted by sgtharper

Yes I see what you mean, I've had a look on Google and it supports what you say. I was surprised to see that a Type 23 can take a Merlin though. Well as far as the RN's purchase of Wildcat is concerned I can only assume that there is a role and requirement for them?

Merlin is ASW and troop lift only - replacing the Sea King.

The Wildcat is multirole, and one role it offers more than the Merlin is that fact that it has a ASuW capability, where as the Merlin doesn't.

Originally Posted by sgtharper

Yes I see what you mean, I've had a look on Google and it supports what you say. I was surprised to see that a Type 23 can take a Merlin though. Well as far as the RN's purchase of Wildcat is concerned I can only assume that there is a role and requirement for them?

I think one of the requirements would be guard helicopter for the SSBN's now that the Nimrod's are gone. With the Type 22's gone now of the rest of the ships are meant to take the Lynx's. It might be for the Commando's needs rather then the Royal Navy.