sancho
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2009
- Messages
- 13,011
- Reaction score
- 27
- Country
- Location
???????????????
Kawasaki C-2 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Could also be declared for "civil" use, but would make a bigger operational difference, if procured instead of additional C17s.
The simple fact is regardless of how cheap the Be 200 is it is NOT the best machine for the task.
It's not about if the Be 200 is cheaper or if the US 2 is the best, but what cost is justifiable just for the SAR role or how to utilize the budget at best!
I don't see any operational advantages that IN gets, that makes such a price worth it, especially when more important procurements are waiting (ASW helicopter, MRMR aicraft, additional P8Is, SSK's, tankers and even LDPs would be more important).
Just an example, for the $1.65 billion for just 15 x US2's IN could also buy:
15 x Bombardier 415 - $36.8 millions / $552 millions (SAR, transport to and from Islands)
9 x C295 MPA - $50 millions / $450 million (MRMR with ASW capability)
~5 x MV22 Osprey's - around $140 million system (uttility support + SAR to and from the CBG)
=> roughly twice the number of aircrafts
=> cost-effective SAR and transports around our coastlines and the Islands
=> more ASW and maritime patrol capability
=> most advanced choice for the long range CBG support