15 November 2009

Israel Drops V-22

The IDF is looking at the CH-53K instead.

It makes sense, really. Israel is the size of New Jersey, and the CH-53 is much more flexible, and the difference in speed does not make much of a difference.

Let's roll the numbers


V-22Ch-53K
Speed450 km/h315 km/h
Payload6,800 kg15,900 kg
Range1,627 km841 km
Cabin Size (lxwxh)7.3m x 1.8m x 1.8m9.1m x 2.7m x 2.0m

Since going from one corner of Israel to the other is on the order of 400 km, the CH-53 K can cover the entire country, carrying more, and carrying more internally.

Additionally, the V-22 costs about $70 million as versus about $30 million for the CH-53K.

With a reduced payload and supplemental tanks, something like a special forces insertion is going to have similar range, and the larger internal payload allows the on an offloading of larger vehicles more quickly.

Finally, in a "hot" landing zone, the V-22, with its heavily loaded props/rotors, is more susceptible to vortex ring state (basically a stall in a rotary winged aircraft), and has to descend more slowly, increasing vulnerability to ground fire.

It's a no brainer for Israel not to buy the V-22.

Come to think of it, it may be a no brainer for everyone not to buy the V-22.

0 comments :

Post a Comment