M134D MiniGun for CH-146 Griffons
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mission specialist will perform that task....
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Yes, there was much happiness in 1 Wing when the okay for the purchase came out. Of course, everyone is still holding their breath. We all know that nothing is ever worth the paper it's signed on until the equipment actually arrives. Fingers crossed.
OldSolduer
Army.ca Relic
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All very nice, but once you load the ammo and gun on.....how many troops can you lift?
Anyone remember the "mini tat" that was mounted on the Kiowas?
Anyone remember the "mini tat" that was mounted on the Kiowas?
Being as nobody seems to have posted it yet:
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=80abd968-751e-49d6-9216-cb0a60d5f49e
Canada ponders deploying armed helicopters to Afghan
David ******** , Canwest News Service
Published: Monday, February 11, 2008
The Canadian military is looking at sending as many as six Griffon helicopters to Afghanistan to provide additional firepower and surveillance for troops there.
The idea of basing a "Griffon six-pack" in Kandahar is being proposed as one option for the Harper government which has yet to approve the chopper deployment.
In addition, Public Works and Government Services Canada announced it intends on awarding a sole-source contract to a U.S. firm for the purchase of three, electrical-driven Gatling guns that can fire up to 3,000 rounds a minute to be installed on helicopters.
Liberal Senator Colin Kenny said he has been told the Griffons will be used in an attack role and will be equipped with weapons and sensors needed to strike at enemy formations. The deployment of the choppers would be done as soon as possible, he said.
Other military officials, however, said a decision on the choppers has yet to be made but that planning on the option is advanced.
Kenny has been pushing for the deployment of the Griffons to Afghanistan as a way to further protect Canadian troops and to cut down on casualties.
Canada does not have its own helicopters in Afghanistan.
Defence Department officials have not responded to several requests over the last 10 days for information on the option to send Griffons to Kandahar.
Under a new process, most statements issued by the department to the news media must be approved by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office or the Privy Council Office and any media questions about the Afghanistan mission are considered highly sensitive.
But Defence Department spokeswoman Lt. Isabelle Riche said the Gatling guns purchase is "not connected to deploying Griffons to Afghanistan."
It "is an Air Force purchase to support the pre-deployment close combat attack training requirement of ground troops," she added in an e-mail. According to the Public Works notice there is the potential for more of the weapons to be purchased.
The procurement will be used to establish tactics and procedures required so helicopters can support ground troops. The capability is in response to lessons learned by the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan, the notice added.
The Gatling guns are to be purchased from Dillon Aero Inc., of Arizona and will be sent for testing at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, N.B.
The Harper government announced in the summer of 2006 its intention to buy U.S.-built Chinook helicopters but discussions are still ongoing on that deal.
It is not expected those large transport choppers will be delivered until after 2011.
In the meantime, Defence Department officials are trying to convince the U.S. to provide older model Chinook helicopters for Canadian troops in Afghanistan.
Poland also has indicated it will provide two helicopters and while defence officials are appreciative of the offer, they note it won't meet all of Canada's chopper transport needs.
Military leaders such as defence chief Gen. Rick Hillier have talked about the need for Chinook transport helicopters to reduce casualties in Afghanistan. Canadian convoys have become frequent targets for both suicide bombers and Taliban ambushes.
Last year in response to Kenny's suggestion to send the Griffons to Afghanistan, Defence Minister Peter MacKay issued a statement that such an option would not be considered. Army officials, however, have been pushing for the choppers to be sent. While the Griffons won't be used to carry soldiers, they can use the Gatling guns to attack insurgents on the ground.
Details aren't being released on how much taxpayers are spending on the Gatling guns.
But it's not the first time the air force has considered arming the Griffon. In 2002, a military report concluded outfitting the helicopter with sensors and weapons could be done and would be an effective way to enhance firepower.
Weapons that could be fielded on the Griffon include missiles or a high-speed gun near the front of the chopper. The gun concept was considered as most suitable for upgrading the Griffon as an armed reconnaissance aircraft.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=80abd968-751e-49d6-9216-cb0a60d5f49e
Canada ponders deploying armed helicopters to Afghan
David ******** , Canwest News Service
Published: Monday, February 11, 2008
The Canadian military is looking at sending as many as six Griffon helicopters to Afghanistan to provide additional firepower and surveillance for troops there.
The idea of basing a "Griffon six-pack" in Kandahar is being proposed as one option for the Harper government which has yet to approve the chopper deployment.
In addition, Public Works and Government Services Canada announced it intends on awarding a sole-source contract to a U.S. firm for the purchase of three, electrical-driven Gatling guns that can fire up to 3,000 rounds a minute to be installed on helicopters.
Liberal Senator Colin Kenny said he has been told the Griffons will be used in an attack role and will be equipped with weapons and sensors needed to strike at enemy formations. The deployment of the choppers would be done as soon as possible, he said.
Other military officials, however, said a decision on the choppers has yet to be made but that planning on the option is advanced.
Kenny has been pushing for the deployment of the Griffons to Afghanistan as a way to further protect Canadian troops and to cut down on casualties.
Canada does not have its own helicopters in Afghanistan.
Defence Department officials have not responded to several requests over the last 10 days for information on the option to send Griffons to Kandahar.
Under a new process, most statements issued by the department to the news media must be approved by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office or the Privy Council Office and any media questions about the Afghanistan mission are considered highly sensitive.
But Defence Department spokeswoman Lt. Isabelle Riche said the Gatling guns purchase is "not connected to deploying Griffons to Afghanistan."
It "is an Air Force purchase to support the pre-deployment close combat attack training requirement of ground troops," she added in an e-mail. According to the Public Works notice there is the potential for more of the weapons to be purchased.
The procurement will be used to establish tactics and procedures required so helicopters can support ground troops. The capability is in response to lessons learned by the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan, the notice added.
The Gatling guns are to be purchased from Dillon Aero Inc., of Arizona and will be sent for testing at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, N.B.
The Harper government announced in the summer of 2006 its intention to buy U.S.-built Chinook helicopters but discussions are still ongoing on that deal.
It is not expected those large transport choppers will be delivered until after 2011.
In the meantime, Defence Department officials are trying to convince the U.S. to provide older model Chinook helicopters for Canadian troops in Afghanistan.
Poland also has indicated it will provide two helicopters and while defence officials are appreciative of the offer, they note it won't meet all of Canada's chopper transport needs.
Military leaders such as defence chief Gen. Rick Hillier have talked about the need for Chinook transport helicopters to reduce casualties in Afghanistan. Canadian convoys have become frequent targets for both suicide bombers and Taliban ambushes.
Last year in response to Kenny's suggestion to send the Griffons to Afghanistan, Defence Minister Peter MacKay issued a statement that such an option would not be considered. Army officials, however, have been pushing for the choppers to be sent. While the Griffons won't be used to carry soldiers, they can use the Gatling guns to attack insurgents on the ground.
Details aren't being released on how much taxpayers are spending on the Gatling guns.
But it's not the first time the air force has considered arming the Griffon. In 2002, a military report concluded outfitting the helicopter with sensors and weapons could be done and would be an effective way to enhance firepower.
Weapons that could be fielded on the Griffon include missiles or a high-speed gun near the front of the chopper. The gun concept was considered as most suitable for upgrading the Griffon as an armed reconnaissance aircraft.
