Photo shown is a ASW [Anti-Submarine Warfare] version of the A109 the Philippine Navy will be getting. It sports a FLIR and a rescue hoist for SAR [Search And Rescue] missions, its also armed with a lightweight Anti-Submarine Torpedo. Once we receive the said A109 ASW version, it will mark a first for the said helicopter and for the rest of the Armed Forces around the world for deploying the said helicopter for missions hunting enemy submarines. ASW Helicopters around the world usually come in the form of SH-60 Seahawk [Naval version of the famous HH-60 / UH-60 / S-70 Blackhawk] for the US Navy, Royal Australian Navy, Republic of Singapore Navy, ROC Navy [Republic of Chine - Taiwan] , South Korean Navy, Japanese Navy [official name, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force - not really a conventional Navy since Japanese constitution renounce war and does not allow an armed forces - just think of it as a Coast Guard that is heavily armed as the US Navy] , Turkish Navy, and various European and first rate navy... Just to continue, the Lynx is also a capable ASW used by the Royal Navy [Britains Navy] and other countries that they use to rule, the EH-101 Merlin is the grand Rolls Royce of the ASW Helicopter community. its very expensive and as capable as the American SH-60 Seahawk and also it has 3 engines unlike the rest. Its freaking big for an ASW Helicopter it has room to carry people rescued and can drop a life raft for other survivors in the water. Anyway about our A109 ASW , no confirmation of a Dipping Sonar installed. The dipping sonar is the main equipment of ASW Helicopters , its used to detect and track enemy and friendly submarines. The A109 is originally a business or private helicopter, just like the AS565 Dauphine, both have excellent handling , fast and good looking. Unlike the Dauphine, its the first time the A109 will be playing the said role. The AS565 Dauphine is a successful helicopter in both civilian and military roles, most are deployed as a utility helicopter transporting troops or ferrying in supply much like our own UH-1H Hueys. The ASW version of the Dauphine has been in service for more than a decade witht he French Navy, Israeli Navy, Saudi Navy and Royal Thai Navy.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 12:59:49 +0000
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