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A Modest Proposal
— An Armed CH-146 Griffon for Kandahar? |
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Update: On 26 Nov 2008, MND Peter MacKay announced that 8 INGRESS Griffons will be sent to Kandahar in early 2009. Plans
to deploy first emerged in mid-Dec 2007. At that time, it was reported that six CH-146s would go to Kandahar with
Roto 5. The Griffon missions were to begin in summer 2008. Now, the M134 Mini-gun-armed
INGRESS Griffon operations will likely commence in February or March 2009.
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‘A Few Good Men’ (and their Helicopters) as a Model
It is true that the Griffon is far from ideal for hot-and- high but not that it was
undeployable. Until July 2006, US Marines flew convoy escort duties from Kandahar Airfield in similar UH-1Ns.
These USMC Twin Hueys, despite being even less powerful than a Griffon, were heavily armed. [1]
So, why were the Marines’ UH-1Ns able to operated from KAF, while local conditions were judged too hot-and-high
for the CF? The answer must be in procurement politics for there are no major technological hurdles preventing
CH-146s from deploying.[2]
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An Interim-Interim Solution for Armed Escort ?
With an appropriate sense of urgency, Canadian helicopters could be escorting CF ground troops in Afghanistan now.
Much of the UH-1N’s 1970s vintage gear is already in the Griffon mission kits. To make the Griff
a more efficient escort, its infra- red sensor could be nose-mounted (to free-up its port pylon). With a crew of only
four, the Griffon should be able to mount an armed escort mission from KAF even if fitted with kevlar armour
seats, floor panels, etc. Not ideal but at least the troops get top cover and eyes-in-the-skies.
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[1] The KAF-based UH-1Ns (of HMM-622 which stood down in July) were armed with 2.75" rocket pods (7- or 19-rounds) and
twin door- mounted .50 cal GAU-16 machineguns (alternatives are 7.62mm M-240 or GAU-17 mini-gun). Crews consist
of two pilots and two gunners.
[2] There is a fear that deploying any CF helicopter would take pressure off of politicians to approve
future procurement choices. The Air Force hurts its own case here. Having eschewed interim solutions, the CAS reaped
his reward in billions in new purchases. None of these aircraft will arrive in time to reduce casualties
in Afghanistan but, instead of urgent concern, the CAS announced yet another AF wishlist.
[3] Lt-Col JP Dorschner (USAR, Ret.,
Military Intelligence Branch with Special Forces and SOF ) is now a Special Correspondent for JDW.
[4] What the CAS is gearing up for here is the Boeing AH-64D Apache attack helicopter (operated by the US
Army, British Army, and the Dutch in southern Afghanistan ). The Apache is highly capable but experience in
Iraq revealed weaknesses. While heavily armoured, the Apache’s main gun can engage only one target
at a time. Some sources claim that utility helicopters with twin, flexible door guns have the advantage in urban
areas or where terrain provides multiple, covered firing positions. The big trade-off is, of course, in armour
protection.
[5] This consists of a nose-mounted infrared/EO/laser turret plus weapons stations for 2 x 7.62mm GAU-17 or .50 cal
GAU-19 gatling guns, twin 2.75" rocket pods or 4 x AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles. (Defensive
countermeasures and IR/radar warning sensors also fitted.)
[6] This could include an new ‘glass’ cockpit (needed for the “ARH-146” but also applicable to
surviving utility and SAR CH-146s). There are also Model 412/Griffon powerplant, transmission, and rotor
upgrades developed by Bell. New ARH simulators would also be needed. NB: there is considerable export
potential for the ARH upgrades for the other twenty-nine nations which operate military Bell Model 412s.
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Of late, Chief of Air Staff, LGen Steve Lucas, has been musing about tweaked CH-146 Griffons with upgraded
“ transmissions and engines” to better suit them to hot and high conditions. This may be
ARH-146 Griffon Plus – Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter with a Canadian Twist?
to also perform the role that the CAS really wants – an armed reconnaissance helicopter gunship to
escort CF