Nick_S wrote:Rakesh wrote: https://twitter.com/ReviewVayu/status/1 ... 09858?s=20 ---> Northrop Grumman has delivered the 51st U.S. Navy E-2D Advanced Hawkeye production aircraft, AA-52. This aircraft is equipped with the Delta System/Software Configuration (DSSC) Build 3, which provides an additional leap in operational effectiveness and technology for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.
How big of a lift do you need to fit these in? Other than STOBAR issue, not sure if Vikrant's lifts could fit these in.
Actually, it might be much easier to fit these in the Vikrant lift than the Rafale... Checking this image from
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/2 ... r-operator, you can see that the wings actually fold pretty well to within the 24 ft (7.3 m) diameter radome, which, even if we add a meter on either side for the propellors, will be well within the 11.2 m wide Vikrant lifts.
Length & Height might not be an issue. The E2D is 17.6 m long and 5.58 m high, nearly a meter
shorter than the F/A-18E/F, and just a foot taller than the Rafale (5.30 m). If both F-18 & Rafale fit in the Vikrant, E2D could as well.
The bigger issues I see are:
1) Is there enough clearance for the Hawkeye to take-off & land with its 80 ft wings unfolded, or does that require the deck to be cleared, which affects combat ops.
2) Can the airframe handle the extra stress of STOBAR takeoff, will it cause tail strikes?
3) Can take off in the approximately 500 ft length available on Vikrant using the retractable wheel chocks? Does the Vikrant have the capability to have different wheel chocks for different aircraft types during takeoff?
Online search suggests
a minimum takeoff distance (ground roll) of 1346 ft,
1850 ft at MTOW.
Given the
5100 x 2 eshp x 2.5 factor = 25,500 lbf total thrust of the Hawkeye engines,
170 mph = 148 kts T/O speed at MTOW, a takeoff length of 180 m off a 14 deg, 45 m long ramp with 30 kts wind-over-deck, an assumed L/D ratio of 9, this
STOBAR simulator suggests that the Hawkeye COULD take-off from a ski-ramp at 47,000 lb (approx.) weight. That said, the margins seem to be quite thin, so it might be fairly risky.