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Strike Fighter Squadron OPTEMPO factors
Hello,
The weekend comes, but I think it might be interesting: I've thought about several factors which could determine the capability of a Strike Fighter Squadron to perform high tempo operations, or a large number of sorties for a short time. Maybe you know something that I do not know, or have some other ideas? The following example is for a carrier-based F/A-18E/F squadron, built on the rule "the more of something you have, the more sorties you can generate"... 1) The number of aircraft per a squadron (now about 12 F/A-18E or 14 F/A-18F). Some official sources say the number of aircraft per squadron would decrease to 10, but I can see it concerns only future F-35B/C (JSF) squadrons. More aircraft give more flexibility (some of them may be permanently configured as recce or tankers), and greater margin for possible operational losses. 2) The number of aircrews (pilots, WSOs) in a squadron (16 pilots for a 12-plane F/A-18A/C squadron?). 3) The number of maintenance people for a squadron (244 men for an F/A-18A squadron, IIRC). 4) Aircraft carrier flight deck/hangar deck issues: - number of people for the "roof" and "hanger", - number and availability of workshops/maintenance devices, - issues connected with the flight deck itself and/or the air plan. I've heard there was such an experiment made aboard USS Nimitz, when additional people ferried to the carrier in the 5th Fleet AOR make it possible to "wind-up" the tempo of air operations. Also, I guess that a failed aircraft elevator or a broken cat can spoil you the whole day... 5) Availability of aircraft "consumables" on board of a carrier, that is: - JP-5 fuel, - lubricants, - LOX, and so on... 6) Availability of aircraft "expendables" aboard a carrier: - various external ordnance and modification kits (in case of modular weapons as JDAM or Paveway) In the WWII on the Pacific the ship's ordnance stock could be tailored for the mission - for example, there were less torpedos and more HVARs close to the end of the war... - gun ammo, chaff, flare, - missile adapters, multiple bomb racks etc. - weapon pylons (in "clean" configuration removed), - external fuel tanks (I guess every squadron brings aboard their own ones?), - buddy refueling stores (4 per a squadron?), - ATFLIR pods, AFAIK F-14 squadrons used to have 6 LANTIRN pods each, I am not sure how it can be with F/A-18s. I've just learnt the Navy is going to buy about 574 ATFLIRs, so it looks like every deployed F/A-18A+/C/E/F having its own navigation/targeting pod... - SHARP pods, Again, F-14 squadrons had 3 TARPS pods - so, also 3 SHARPs for an F/A-18F squadron (F/A-18E can carry the pod also, but is not expected to fulfill the recce mission). - other pods, including ECM (this issue will appear when EA-18G with their ALQ-228 and ALQ-99 comes into service. What do you think about? How it is in other services? Best regards, Jacek Zemlo |
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