Iranian Ekranoplan Squadron

[AshVX220]

the BBC call them flying boats, but I think they're WIGS, quite cool anyway.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-114323...

[Munter]

Cool, and possibly useful. But they don't appear to be the height of technology...more like a small engine and a few bits of plywood.

[KrazyIvan]

cool, it will be like duck hunting for the American Navy.

the russian effort is far more impressive

[Simpo Two]

Looks remarkably like a squadron of small Donald Campbell Bluebirds!



The idea of Iranians flying anything is frankly a bit scary... they don't really 'do' flying do they?

[davepoth]

Since pretty much every country stopped selling them plane spares, they're mostly good at crashing.

[scubadude]

To their credit, for ground effects craft they are getting a notable altitude!

Can't see them having much of a weapons payload or the speed to outrun anything we wouldn't want them to see's weaponary though!

[Mr Dave]

Simpo Two said:

Looks remarkably like a squadron of small Donald Campbell Bluebirds!



The idea of Iranians flying anything is frankly a bit scary... they don't really 'do' flying do they?

Their airforce has shot down an awful lot more aircraft since ww2 than ours if thats anything to go by, they still have a lot of tomcats and phantoms flying so they must be able to not crash sometimes.

Topgear top tip, small cheap wooden WIGs able to carry shkval torpedoes and other antiship weapons that fly very very low and attack in relatively large numbers seems a pretty bloody smart way of attacking ships. Will be a nightmare to try to shootdown. Very clever.

[Penguinracer]

How well will shipbourne radar cope with a predominantly wooden aircraft flying just a few feet above the surface? AWAC might be beneficial but I'd have thought return clutter from any radar installation without significant elevation would have a major impact on performance.

[davepoth]

Indeed. That's how the Swordfishes were able to torpedo the Bismarck - the automated AA systems on her couldn't work out how something could be moving so slowly...

[dilbert]

I seem to remember some American chap trying to convince the US military that thousands and thousands of light special purpose aircraft like this, would have more effect for the same price as a single F15.

In certain circumstances, I think he might actually be right. The trouble is, that's a war we've never yet had.

[dilbert]

Also, In the naval scenario, I'm pretty sure Phalanx would make mince out of it.

[shirt]

i once watched a documentary about an argentinian guy who had designed a cheap aircraft utilising a circular wing [like an inverted omega when looking at the front]. their airforce rejected it, but his argument was that for shear force of numbers, the brits wouldn't have been able to counterract them in the falklands.

i guess this is the same thing. old idea [but still cool] and would be like shooting fish in a barrel. employed in waves, kamikaze style, they'd be hellish to defend against.

[davepoth]

dilbert said:

I seem to remember some American chap trying to convince the US military that thousands and thousands of light special purpose aircraft like this, would have more effect for the same price as a single F15.

In certain circumstances, I think he might actually be right. The trouble is, that's a war we've never yet had.

We're in it now. What use is an F15 against a man in a cave?

[dilbert]

davepoth said:

dilbert said:

I seem to remember some American chap trying to convince the US military that thousands and thousands of light special purpose aircraft like this, would have more effect for the same price as a single F15.

In certain circumstances, I think he might actually be right. The trouble is, that's a war we've never yet had.

We're in it now. What use is an F15 against a man in a cave?

More use than a fleet of Cessnas with Gatling guns.

I don't know, perhaps you're right. The squadrons of light aircraft could certainly upset more people, but the F15 might actually be able to drop a bomb that could penetrate the cave.

It's ironic that "The Cave", is such an old, low tech, defensive technology. It's good enough for NORAD!

It's not the man, it's the cave. Or rather - which cave?

Edited by dilbert on Wednesday 29th September 12:25

[Marf]

Simpo Two said:

Looks remarkably like a squadron of small Donald Campbell Bluebirds!



The idea of Iranians flying anything is frankly a bit scary... they don't really 'do' flying do they?

Carpets?

[Mr Dave]

dilbert said:

Also, In the naval scenario, I'm pretty sure Phalanx would make mince out of it.

Our type 45 air defence ships are fitted "for but not with" goalkeeper/phalanx. Im pretty sure in that case that no they would not.

[dilbert]

Mr Dave said:

dilbert said:

Also, In the naval scenario, I'm pretty sure Phalanx would make mince out of it.

Our type 45 air defence ships are fitted "for but not with" goalkeeper/phalanx. Im pretty sure in that case that no they would not.

Hasn't the budget for that been cut?

I always find it amazing that they'll spend so much on a ship, and then leave it un-defended. I think it's just me though!

Edited by dilbert on Wednesday 29th September 16:34

[Z06George]

Do the modern ships that we have still have man operated 30mm guns and GPMG's or are all the defenses automated?

[dilbert]

Z06George said:

Do the modern ships that we have still have man operated 30mm guns and GPMG's or are all the defenses automated?

I think T45 has a token gun, but I might be wrong about that.

[Mr Dave]

dilbert said:

Mr Dave said:

dilbert said:

Also, In the naval scenario, I'm pretty sure Phalanx would make mince out of it.

Our type 45 air defence ships are fitted "for but not with" goalkeeper/phalanx. Im pretty sure in that case that no they would not.

Hasn't the budget for that been cut?

I always find it amazing that they'll spend so much on a ship, and then leave it un-defended. I think it's just me though!

Edited by dilbert on Wednesday 29th September 16:34

Im not 100% sure of where the funding is at presently but last i heard the navy will be able to mount CIWS from ships in refit or being decommisioned to type 45 in case of war and the missiles are still undergoing development and trial ( they look very promising to be honest)

The air defence needs of the navy will be seemingly met by bad language combined with a hope and a prayer.

Usual case of quoting say £500m for the full costs of the ship for design, trials, building, equipment, crew, maintainence etc when it suits them ie " we will cancel this ship and save £500m" yet they arent willing to spend that to get an effective capability.

Anyway back on topic I thing the WIGs look like a good idea for the area they are likely to be used in.