Strike Rescue - Are We on the Right Path?
Abstract
The Navy departed the 'right path' to an enhance Strike Rescue capability in April 1989 with OSD's decision to cancel the Osprey program. This mission is vital for improving the morale and aggressiveness of our 'warriors,' ensuring each service meets its own search and rescue needs in accordance with national and military policy, denying the enemy a source of intelligence and potential political propaganda, and returning a valuable asset to the fleet. Our track record in Strike Rescue success has dwindled with time. Lessons learned in Strike Rescue during the previous conflict tend to be forgotten while the threat had increased. Current Strike Rescue capabilities in the Navy are deficient due to the lack of commitment to spend precious dollars to upgrade Strike Rescue platforms, provide needed aircrew survival gear, support the mission with assets available, and provide adequate training and doctrine. Two programs that provide promise are the proposed 6:2 mix of Sikorsky's SH-60F:HH-60H helicopters for HS squadrons as an interim measure and Bell/Boeing's tilt-rotor HV-22 Osprey for the future fix. Keywords: Naval operations, Rescues, Prisoners of war, History, Helicopters, Military doctrine, Surveys.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 16, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA230078
Entities
People
- Michael A. Fackrell
Organizations
- Naval War College