>Canadian Values are in Stark Contrast to Muslim Values
Them bigly Wahabi/Donmeh shekels though…
https://rusi-ns.ca/sof_griffon/
Canada’s Special Forces Helicopters are Obsolete for the Role They are Tasked to Carry Out July 10, 2023 RUSI(NS) Staff
The article “Canadian Special Forces pilots warn they are being held back by inferior equipment and the obsolete Griffon helicopter”1 by defence correspondant David Pugliese in the Ottawa Citizen 5 July 2023 caught the attention of the RUSI(NS) Security Affairs Committee. The committee noted this matter should be addressed. What was startling in reading the article is the fact that serving Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilots flying the Griffon helicopter have openly warned that they are being held back by inferior equipment. But first, a bit of the background about the helicopter.
100 Bell CH-146 Griffon helicopters were ordered in 1992 in a sole source deal with Bell Textron Canada and delivered to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) between 1994 and 1998. They were intended to replace the Kiowa light observation helicopter and the Twin Huey utility helicopter. What should be noted is that the Griffon was not designed as a combat aircraft but a military utility version of the Bell 412. It carried no defensive or offensive armaments. 85 of the aircraft were assigned to Air Command (no RCAF) in the tactical helicopter role and the remaining 15 to base flights for local search and rescue operations.
The original intent was to retire the CH-146 in 2021. However, on 30 January 2019 the Department of National Defence decided to extend the life of the aircraft through 2031 with an upgrade in engines and avionics to the tune of $800 million. The first modernized helicopter is expected to be delivered in 2024 and the remaining aircraft will be upgraded by 2028 according to the CAF. Even with the planned upgrades, the CH-146 is considered obsolete for special forces operating in today’s threat environment.
From a flying perspective, the Griffon is finicky to fly. It is easy to overtorque whereas the US Blackhawk, for example, is hard to overtorque. Additionally, the Griffon is risky operating at higher altitudes and in hot temperatures. In other words, it is not a helicopter ideally suited for the role assigned to 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron….