RAF Defense Review & a new CAS platform: Raven GR.1

[B777LR]

you BUILD it!!  How many British A-4s have we seen?  USAF Lightnings?  That's the graet thing about whiffing; there is no single interpretation that is correct. 

How many USN Gnats have we seen? Ceylonese AF F-5s? F-14s fighting Zeroes?

[Aircav]

And whats wrong with F-14s fighting Zeroes, I saw the documentary on the TV 

[AeroplaneDriver]

The Su-25 is one of the few Soviet/Russian airplanes that I have heard as having a name other than the NATO identifier.  I've read a couple of places that Mikoyan and Sukhoi actually market their respective products overseas as Fulcrum and Flanker.  The Su-25 apparently has the unofficial nickname of "Grach", or Rook.  A rook is a sort of raven-like bird.  We in the West tend to associate the name Raven with sneaky stuff (like the EF-111, or the "Ravens" OV-10 units in Vietnam), but the RAF could name theirs the Raven GR1, and no one could say, "Boo!"

Raven, huh?  I kinda like that.  It would put me in the odd position of two builds in a row called 'Raven', but they're very different aircraft, with different users and different timeframes, so what the heck...

Thanks for that little tidbit Jason.

[AeroplaneDriver]

Progress hasnt been as quick as expected, with other stuff getting in the way, but the first coat of paint is now on.  Here is a pic taken immediately before painting, showing a couple of the RAF additions.  The refueling probe came from an Esci/Italeri F-5A and the chaff/flare dispensers on the rear fuselage are from a Jaguar (just like in the backtory).

I think I'm going to go with a loadout of CRV7 rocket pods on the outers, next in will have TIALD on the left, Maverick in the right, next inboard will have Paveway II on the left, 1000lb GP bomb right, then the inners will have the original SU25 fuel tanks (since they would have come with the aircraft anyway).  The loadout may change as it progresses, but that's my thinking now.  If anything I'll drop the Maverick and one of the CRV7s and leave the outers empty (meaning TIALD on one side with CRV7 opposite).

On the naming front, I think I've narrowed it down to 'Raven' or 'Jackal'...

Anyway, here's the pic:

[Shasper]

If I may AD, The Georgians (I think) have/had an upgrade for the Su-25 called Scorpion out some time ago, so there's another name option. If you dont like the idea of "Raven", there's always alternatives like "Blackbird" or "Crow", then there's "Vulture" (the bird that picks off roadkill over here in the US). . .

Shas

[AeroplaneDriver]

I originally thought of Scorpion, but since that is a specific Elbit upgrade program, I decided I'd go with something else to differentiate it.

[lancer]

And whats wrong with F-14s fighting Zeroes, I saw the documentary on the TV 

Funnily enough, I saw the same documentary..

[AeroplaneDriver]

Right lads, here is a last pic before hte final reveal.  Paint done, decals done.  I'm about to start some weathering then sticking on all the fiddly bits. 

Name-wise I'm leaning strongly towards 'Raven'.

[BlackOps]

Nice! I think Raven suits it just fine

[Aircav]

Looks great AD, just thinking the Su-25 would look good in navy colours with the wings folded at the dog tooth, indian may be............................

[Howard of Effingham]

masterly stuff!

concept, backstory and scheme all 9/10, 

just a shame that we probably won't get to see this model in the uk ever

[AeroplaneDriver]

The official name for the RAF's new Close Air Support aircraft was chosen on the BBC television program 'Blue Peter' on May 9th 2009. The three finalists were invited, along with AVM 'Timo' Anderson, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff.

The three finalsts were:
3rd-Tommy Flimp, aged 9 from Devon with his suggestion of "Jackal".  Tommy said he liked the name because it sounded like his Uncle Jack who brought him sweets.

2nd-Susie McGillicudy, aged 11 from Lancashire with her suggestion of "Vampyre".  Susie said she liked Vampyre because it was evocative of a shadowy demonic horror slipping thorough the night leaving death and devasation in its wake, and was in keeping with the Slavic roots of the aircraft, while at the same time recognizing the distinct identity of the classic British fighter jet of the 40s and 50s.

and in 1st place, the winner was little Jason Schmus, aged 10, from Norfolk.  He suggested the name 'Raven', saying that the original Russian name of the aircraft was "Grach', translated as 'Rook'.  He said that Raven was in keeping with this name, but also had links to the legendary Ravens guarding the Tower of London, making it a worthy name for an RAF aircraft.


The first Raven GR.1, unveiled live on Blue Peter from RAF Leeming, was soon joined by a further 22.  Twelve equipped 16 Squadron, chosen for reactivation in part because of its long history as an Army cooperation squadron.  Five aircraft (including three two-seaters) formed the Raven Training Flight at Leeming.  The remaining five were kept as attrition reserves.  The eight extra airframes originally delivered to BAES were kept as spares reserves.

Shortly after beginning the update program, BAES realized that the design of the Su25 would allow a relatively easy engine swap, so the final upgrade included substitution of the Tumanski turbojets with RB.199 engines salvaged from Tornado F.3s, minus their afterburner section.  Total thrust from the RB.199s was slightly less than the Tumanskis, but weight reductions made during the modification program meant no performace was lost.

The relatively painless rebuild program proceeded ontime and on budget, making it a rare example of true 'smart procurement' in British defense spending. 

Eight ravens from 16 Sqn deployed to afghanistan in November 2009, relieving the workload on the Harriers and Typhoons already in theatre.  The aircraft proved highly successful in operations in Afghanistan, and was popular with both pilots and troops on the ground.  Armed with a 27mm Mauser cannon and a normal load of a single Paveway II bomb, a single 1000lb GP bomb, and a 19-round CRV7 rocket pod the aircraft was able to provide a flexible response to a wide variety of threats.  The new fuel efficient engines, external tanks, and an inflight refueling capability also gave the aircraft a long loiter time over the battlefield.

The aircraft shown is depicted after six months in Afghanistan, showing the effect of the harsh operating environment on the aircraft.  Though it carries the normal CAS loadout, it is also capable of carrying Maverick and Hellfire missiles.

[Aircav]

Nice, very nice 

[Mossie]

Yeah, nice Raven!  I like variation on the 'Flashman' paint scheme especially.

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

One word:

Outstanding

Simple as that.

Ian