Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:32:06-2:33:20

Why Royal Navy helicopter AEW emerged after the Falklands

Helicopter AEW became urgent only after the Royal Navy lost CATOBAR carriers and discovered that expected land-based warning aircraft would not always cover an expeditionary fleet.

Airborne Early WarningCATOBARFalklands WarFleet Air ArmHelicopters
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Question

Why did Royal Navy helicopter AEW appear only after the Falklands War?

Short answer

Because fixed-wing carrier AEW had previously filled the role, and the Falklands proved land-based cover could not be assumed.

Notes

Before the Falklands, fixed-wing carrier aircraft such as the Gannet provided a better AEW platform than a helicopter could. Once Britain could no longer operate those aircraft at sea, the service accepted the compromises of rotary-wing radar. NATO planning had also encouraged an assumption that land-based aircraft would provide warning inside the alliance area. The South Atlantic exposed the danger of that assumption and forced a practical substitute.