Makes sense, it’s quite interesting how much progress is being made on this issue
I don’t know much about the Italian AW101, but I’m not aware of the British one having a laser designator, so laser guided rocket’s wouldn’t be much use.
Laser payload on Star-SAFIRE is optional. Not all of them will have it, and not all of the laser options are illuminators/designators, some are simply rangefinders or pointers.
That said, British Merlins are equipped with electro-optic turrets.
Royal Navy Merlin Mk.2s have a Wescam WX15 on the side that likewise has the option for a laser. No idea if it’s actually equipped with one though
Merlin HC.3 and HC.4 transport helicopters also have the option for a nose-mounted electro-optic turret. Various types have been used over the years. Current HC.4/HC.4A sensor appears to be Star-SAFIRE III
In this case, the presence of the white sticker above the green-lensed aperture seems to be a laser warning
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That’s a cool photo. It shows the countermeasures dispensers and IR jammer fitted. There aren’t many pictures of that online.
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Here’s the link to the section on the old forums, if anyone wishes to access any information from there:
My Wessex HU.5 suggestion is up:
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1963 footage of Wessex HAS.1 (Commando) firing SS.11
Also shows a Whirlwind HAS.7 equipped with 2" rockets from a Matra No.6 launcher. And regarding the Whirlwind, there’s a snippet in this RAF periodical that states that in 1964, some Whirlwinds of No.225 Squadron were capable of firing SS.11
225 Sqn. operated the Whirlwind HAR.10 at this time
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This is quite interesting.
So far I have only personally see Whirlwinds with MG / Rocket installations. More info would be great:
Spoiler
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Might prove difficult to find images if only 3-4 Whirlwinds of a single squadron (225) were capable but there’s an IWM recording of an oral account of Whirlwind being equipped with SS.11
It’s in the 15th reel of 24, from 10:45 onwards:
We got to Singapore, and they demanded that I fly off all four Whirlwinds. Now, I knew that they just wanted one Whirlwind with the maximum amount of flying hours, fitted with Nord because we only had a few that were fitted and that it was to be used for training purposes.
…
It was required with the maximum flying hours so they could do the training for firing the Nord.
18:45 clarifies that the references are to the Nord SS.11 missile and goes on to describe its operation. Person being interviewed is unsure but says Whirlwind could carry 4 of them
Borneo Boys: RAF Helicopter Pilots in Action Indonesia Confrontation, 1962–66 by Roger Annett, might have a photo of Whirlwind HAR.10 XP358 with (a pair of?) empty SS.11 launchers on the port side above the front landing gear. But hard to tell for sure.
Searching within the book there are numerous references to Nord/SS.11 but I don’t have a copy of the book myself to read what the full context is
Big news! I never knew that the Whirlwinds got much in the way of armaments such as these, would definitely make an interesting vehicle to compliment the Wessex variants
I can ask for more info from the Secret Projects Forum. Hopefully that may help.
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The Post on SPF is up:
Can a throw in a request for ATAS to get a looking at. Been using the G-Lynx a lot in the past week. And my god they cant anything. Especially sub 2km.
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Ah awesome, but i think its also got some guidance issues. Just doesnt seem very… accurate, but maybe G limit increases will fix that
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I got a reply with the following link:
Quite interesting to say the least
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Which source is it?
Thanks!
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