Hello, fellow allohistorians.
I'd like to discuss the development of a somewhat larger (but not overblown) Maltese Air Wing post-Maltese independence in the 1960s. This is part of my tongue-in-cheek LOSERS project. The main POD behind the changes to the Maltese Air Wing is a somewhat higher level of tension between the West and East than during the OTL Cold War. This forces even several of the small European countries to the west of the Iron Curtain to buff up their militaries a notch. But only a notch.
If you're not familiar with the OTL AW of the AFM, here's some info :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Wing_of_the_Armed_Forces_of_Malta
https://afm.gov.mt/en/equipment/aircraft/Pages/aircraft.aspx
https://afm.gov.mt/en/forcestructure/organisation/Pages/organisation.aspx
Some concrete plans I have and would like to see realized :
- keep most of the OTL turboprop trainer, light transport/MP fixed-wing plane and light helicopter complement in place (not much big fixes needed)
- very slightly increase the number and variety of turboprop trainers (e.g. 1 or 2 more models, with 2-3 pieces of each)
- modernize the OTL light helicopter complement earlier, preventing the mostly outdated helicopter inventory in the OTL present (something like buying that UH-72 Lakota or a similar, if cheaper SAR/army helo, could IMHO work)
- in very small numbers (2-3 max), give the Air Wing some heavy helicopters, primarily for maritime patrol, SAR and potential anti-submarine or at least crime-fighting role (a Super Puma could do just fine, maybe replaced or supplemented with an Mi-14 after the fall of the Iron Curtain)
A critical plausibility check I need to discuss :
Could Malta field a small number (2-3) of its own combat jets, even if they were just simple combat-capable jet trainers (e.g. like the Italian Aermacchi, French Dassault Alphajet or British BAe Hawk) ?
I'd like to discuss the development of a somewhat larger (but not overblown) Maltese Air Wing post-Maltese independence in the 1960s. This is part of my tongue-in-cheek LOSERS project. The main POD behind the changes to the Maltese Air Wing is a somewhat higher level of tension between the West and East than during the OTL Cold War. This forces even several of the small European countries to the west of the Iron Curtain to buff up their militaries a notch. But only a notch.
If you're not familiar with the OTL AW of the AFM, here's some info :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Wing_of_the_Armed_Forces_of_Malta
https://afm.gov.mt/en/equipment/aircraft/Pages/aircraft.aspx
https://afm.gov.mt/en/forcestructure/organisation/Pages/organisation.aspx
Some concrete plans I have and would like to see realized :
- keep most of the OTL turboprop trainer, light transport/MP fixed-wing plane and light helicopter complement in place (not much big fixes needed)
- very slightly increase the number and variety of turboprop trainers (e.g. 1 or 2 more models, with 2-3 pieces of each)
- modernize the OTL light helicopter complement earlier, preventing the mostly outdated helicopter inventory in the OTL present (something like buying that UH-72 Lakota or a similar, if cheaper SAR/army helo, could IMHO work)
- in very small numbers (2-3 max), give the Air Wing some heavy helicopters, primarily for maritime patrol, SAR and potential anti-submarine or at least crime-fighting role (a Super Puma could do just fine, maybe replaced or supplemented with an Mi-14 after the fall of the Iron Curtain)
A critical plausibility check I need to discuss :
Could Malta field a small number (2-3) of its own combat jets, even if they were just simple combat-capable jet trainers (e.g. like the Italian Aermacchi, French Dassault Alphajet or British BAe Hawk) ?
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