RAF Guardian AC.1A

[AeroplaneDriver]

On February 27, 1991 the British Army lost an SAS patrol in western Iraq. The patrol came under heavy enemy fire and called in air support. The US Air Force were tasked with air cover for the SAS in this area with an AC-130 gunship. Unfortunately moments before the SAS call for help came in a USMC Recon patrol also called in air cover. The USAF gunship responded to the Marines, leaving the SAS to fend for themselves. A flight of USN A-6Es in the area were diverted to cover the SAS patrol, but by the time the Intruders arrived with CBUs all 6 SAS Troopers were dead.

In the post-war inquiry it was decided that Britain needed a capability comparable to the USAF AC-130. Conversion or outright purchase of AC-130s was almost immediately shelved because of cost issues. Instead it was decided to evaluate smaller civilian airframes for suitability.

Following a 9 month evaluation period it was decided in late 1992 to purchase 16 Fokker F-27 airframes. The F-27 was chosen for a variety of reasons including availablity of airframes and spares leaving the civil market, existing stocks of RR Dart engines and spares in the RAF inventory, and naturally, low cost.

The airframes were modified by Marshall of Cambridge. The process involved strengthening the airframe to take the stresses of low level flight and weapons recoil.  Two external longitudinal stringers running the length of the cabin floor are evidence of this strengthening.  To compensate for control issues during combined weapons firing, aerodynamic strakes were added beneath the tail of the aircraft.

The selected armament fit comprised a single Bofors 40mm gun, 2 Boeing Bushmaster 25mm cannon, and a single GE GAU-12 25mm rotary cannon. Sensor fit included a SLAR antenna on the left side of the fuselage, FLIR sensors below the cockpit as well as laser rangefinding equipment and low-light TV cameras. A prominent bulge was added on the right side of the fuselage. Initial speculation was that this bulge contained EW/jamming equipment. In fact it was merely a structural bulge to facilitate rapid servicing and removal or the onboard artillery.  

Other weapons carried on underwing pylons can include Sidewinder and ASRAAM air-to-air missiles, Hellfire and Brimstone anti-armor missiles, as well as Maverick and ALARM missiles.  A three-point missile pylon developed by Hunting Engineering allows for carriage of three mixed missiles.  Normal operational fit is two Brimstone/Hellfires on the shoulder rails and an AAM on the bottom central rail.  Alternately a Phimat chaff/flare dispenser can be carried on the bottom rail.

Various items of EW equipment were fitted as evidenced by antennae and fairings on the aircraft exterior, however the exact EW suite is still classified.

Underwing fuel tanks and a refueling probe added on the top of the fuselage gave the aircraft extended range and a long loiter endurance. The aircraft crew is made up of two pilots, an Electronic Warfare Officer and five weapons specialists (usually enlisted personnel).

The aircraft entered service as the Guardian AC.1 in February 1995. Soon after service entry the Guardian fleet was upgraded to AC.1A standard with the addition of glass cockpit instrumentation, HUDs and an larger capacity coffee pot.

RAF Guardians first saw combat over Kosovo in 1999, and were later deployed to both Afghanistan and Iraq, where Guardians are still operating.

It was the service entry of a laser-guided 40mm cannon round in early 2005 that led to DALEK operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.  By combining the excellent sensor/targeting fit of the Guardian with the guided cannon shell, it was possible to place a single 40mm round on a human-sized target from an altitude of 8,000 feet.  This operational tactic is known as DALEK, an acronym for Direct Action Low Expendable Kill.  Though details are classified, the availability of a "one-shot-one-kill" capability from an aerial platform is understood to have been heavily utilized in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Of the 16 airframes procured, 14 were converted to Guardian AC.1A(05) standard, with the remaining two in reserve for parts.  All 14 operational aircraft are operated by Number 6 Squadron, having converted from Jaguars during the realignment of Jaguar squadrons in 1998.  Normally 6 Sqn operates two operational flights of 5 aircraft each, with the remaining aircraft held for training and reserve.

Only thirteen Guardians remain in service with one being damaged beyond repair during an insurgent mortar attack while on the ground near Kandahar, Afghanisan.

In late 2005 the UK MoD began looking at plans to replace the Guardian in the 2015-2017 timeframe.  Again, the C-130 has been ruled out on cost grounds, but given the success of the F-27 airframe, no one in the RAF is troubled with the prospect of a like-sized aircraft replacing the Guardian.  So far the most likely candidates for conversion are the Bombardier Q400 and the Fokker 50.










More details of the build tomorrow!

[Eddie M.]

Great story and beautiful aircraft. Hats off. B)  
  Eddie

[anthonyp]

Holy wow!!!  That is one very nice build!  Incredibly well done, and your backstory is a hoot too!

   

[Brian da Basher]

Absolutely fandamntastic AD! You've really pulled this one off! The concept is so believable and the execution looks flawless! I love those guns and the backstory was a real treat.

Brian da Basher

[retro_seventies]

*gurgles slightly and slides off seat and onto floor*

wow!!    

flawless my friend - great backstory, beautiful model....definitely one of my favourites of the fine models that are your trademark - i LOVE it!    

[GTX]

AeroplaneDriver,

Love your work.  One question - why have 2 Boeing Bushmaster 25mm cannon, and a single GE GAU-12 25mm rotary cannon?  Wouldn't it be morre logical to standardise on one type per calibre or did you have a reason?

Either way, it still looks great.

Greg

[Leigh]

AWESOME in every aspect, the build, the story, the pictures
Thank you

[philp]

Awesome job.
Definitely got to find a Skyvan kit now.

[K5054NZ]

     


Friendship thru firepower, huh? Fantastic Nick, it seems my anxious waiting has not been in vain. Nice nice niiiiiiiiiice! I want one!





Great backstory and even better model - fanfeckintastic stuff AD!  

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Now that is a fantastic & superbly realised piece of work.

Take a bow and a rest, sir.....

I H-G

[wolfik]

damn good looking thing my dear !!!!
and damn quick build!!!

[gooberliberation]

I never thought a commuter plane could look so mean!  

[NARSES2]

That's a stunner sir

Chris

[AeroplaneDriver]

AeroplaneDriver,

Love your work.  One question - why have 2 Boeing Bushmaster 25mm cannon, and a single GE GAU-12 25mm rotary cannon?  Wouldn't it be morre logical to standardise on one type per calibre or did you have a reason?

Either way, it still looks great.

Greg

To be honest, if I had had 2 1/72 Warriors instead of Bradleys it would have 2 30mm RARDEN cannon.  

But my rationalization is that the two weapons are the same caliber, but otherwise fairly different.  The Bushmaster would be used whan a lower rate of fire is appopriate, the GAU-12 when you need a smoking hole where the target used to be.

Thanks for the comments guys!

[Shasper]

Man thats one hot bird!


Shas B)