iscover
Seahawk or Lynx?
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It was eighteen years ago when the Department of Defence first examined the requirement for a light to medium-weight helicopter to operate from the rear of the Royal Australian Navy’s projected class of destroyers.
Today, nearly two decades later, we are at the stage where the RAN is on the verge of commissioning the third of its Oliver Hazard Perry-class FFG7 patrol frigates sans the above-mentioned helicopters. Australia is committed to the design, four are confirmed with two in active service while recent defence announcements have pledged the construction of at least a further two examples at Victoria’s infamous Williamstown Naval Dockyard. In time it is estimated that the total requirement might run to a full complement of ten ships requiring a fleet of at least thirty compatible helicopters.
The helicopter is virtually the eyes of the FFG. As they stand at this moment, and at least for the next four to five years, our FFGs are only capable of operating at half, or less, of their intended offensive capability. It is bad enough that the first three have left the slipway without their Vulcan Phalanx close-in weapon system but the lack of the all-important helicopter is something that Defence Central should be ashamed of considering the original decision to purchase the FFG was made some eight years ago. That decision itself was fraught with delay, indecision and various degrees of political fiddling that made a travesty of the objective of selecting the right weapon system at the best price. Scores of specialist teams had embarked on helicopter investigation tours over the past two decades yet today, at the end of 1983, we have got as far as issuing a short list of two types. With a sense of humour, we can only report that a final decision on the winning type will be announced in mid-1984.
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