Operational Capability of Canberra-Class LHDs: Fixed-Wing Aircraft Carrying Capacity
The Royal Australian Navy's Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs) are versatile platforms designed to support both rotary and fixed-wing aircraft operations. An important aspect of their operational capability is the number of fixed-wing aircraft they can carry and operate. This article explores the theoretical and practical capacities of these ships for carrying and operating F-35B and Harrier fixed-wing aircraft, considering various factors that may influence this capacity.
Theoretical Capacity for Fixed-Wing Aircraft
F-35B Lightning II: The F-35B is a short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant designed to operate from a variety of carrier types, including LHDs. Theoretically, the Canberra-class LHDs can accommodate up to 6 F-35B aircraft on board. Based on the ship's hangar and deck configuration, this figure is derived from the available hangar space and the limited area on the flight deck that can be used for aircraft launch and recovery.
BAE Harrier: The Harrier is another STOVL aircraft similar to the F-35B, making it comparable in operational requirements. The LHDs can theoretically operate a similar number of Harriers, around 6, under the same conditions as the F-35B.
Practical Considerations
Hangar and Deck Space: While the theoretical capacity for fixed-wing aircraft on a Canberra-class LHD is around 6, the actual number of aircraft that can be operated may vary based on specific mission configurations. The need to store additional helicopters or other equipment can reduce the number of fixed-wing aircraft that can be accommodated.
Operational Readiness: The LHDs are primarily designed for amphibious operations and may prioritize rotary-wing aircraft for transport and support roles. This operational focus can influence the number of fixed-wing aircraft that can be actively deployed during actual operations.
Maintenance and Turnaround: The logistics and maintenance requirements of fixed-wing aircraft further influence the number of such aircraft that can be actively deployed. The need for sufficient space for maintenance operations is critical to maintaining the readiness of the aircraft.
Comparative Analysis of Carrying Capacity
Comparing the theoretical and practical carrying capacity of fixed-wing aircraft on the Canberra-class LHDs, we can see that it is significantly lower in practice than in theory. According to research studies, the Australian vessel's design and constraints on deck integrity limit the number of fixed-wing aircraft that can be operated.
Case Studies
F-35B vs. Harrier: The F-35B's engines generate significantly more heat than those of the Harrier, making it challenging for the Canberra's deck to handle the F-35B's heat. While the Harrier can take off and land on a standard field without damage, the F-35B requires a reinforced and heat-treated platform to prevent deck melting.
According to the Spanish claim, the Juan Carlos I could carry about 20 fixed-wing aircraft in the hangar plus another 10 on deck, totaling around 30 aircraft. However, in practice, an aircraft-carrying vessel would typically operate an air wing of up to 60-70 aircraft due to maintenance and turnaround requirements.
In the case of Harriers, the original Juan Carlos I was capable of operating around 10-12 Harriers, plus a similar number of helicopters. If a Canberra-class LHD were to operate Harriers in a STOVL configuration, it could theoretically support around 20 Harriers, although this is not practical due to the ship's design constraints.
No F-35B Operational Capability: The Canberra-class LHDs are not designed to operate F-35B aircraft. While a ski-jump could be used to launch F-35Bs, there is no way to recover them due to the heat generated on the deck. The Australian government considered the possibility of operating F-35Bs aboard the Canberras, but a cost-benefit analysis found that the modifications required would be too high.
Conclusion
While the theoretical capacity for fixed-wing aircraft on the Canberra-class LHDs includes the ability to operate up to 6 F-35Bs or Harriers, practical considerations, deck space constraints, and operational focus limit this number. For the Canberra-class LHDs, the operational capacity for fixed-wing aircraft is significantly lower than theoretical calculations indicate.