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I think you need to compare it to the existing alternatives when boarding which are essentially a boat + ladder (fixed or grapple style) or a very large helicop
by secfirstmd 5y ago
I think you need to compare it to the existing alternatives when boarding which are essentially a boat + ladder (fixed or grapple style) or a very large helicopter hovering above a static limited location (e.g a wide open space away from wires). Once people starting going down the rope, the helo is pretty much committed (albeit with covering fire most likely). Whatever happens, usually that process only then gets you on one place, e.g one level. Smarter defenders often make that harder for people assaulting - locating sentries, using barbed wire to block those places etc. You then have to fight, often through openish ground until you get to the first breaching points on that same level. Everyone is usually coming from the one location, for example where the ladder or helo rope is and doing it one by one. So it might take 30-60 seconds at least to get everyone onto the ship.
It would be much quicker to board and harder to defend if an assault team could land basically anywhere on the ship simultaneously. All of a sudden you have people assaulting from front, rear, sides, top and then downwards etc etc. You are suddenly trying to defend from 10 different assaulting positions. Plus the noise and signature of the jet packs will probably be lower than that of a helicopter, so a chance for more surprise. Anywhere with a small enough gap for the jet pack to land.
I assume also in future they will make the transition to fighting a lot faster, such as some kind of quick release mechanism to drop the jetpack stuff off you and get into the fight.
Also another side benefit is that you can use your jetpack to get back off the ship. That might not be the case if it's too tricky for the helo or assault boat to recover you.
- arethuza 5y agoThere already seems to be some kind of quick release mechanism - they can attach the arm mounted components to the backpack pretty quickly - you can see it when the chap with the ladder lands at about 2 mins into the video.
- throwaway0a5e 5y agoThe existing alternative is to fast rope off a helicopter. Jetpacks afford you the ability to land in multiple locations but guys in the air are going to be very vulnerable without the helicopter crew to cover them. Other than being cheaper than a helicopter I don't see how this changes much if the defense is at least semi-competent.
- fredophile 5y agoA helicopter being stationary enough for people to fast rope out of it is also vulnerable. I don't see why they couldn't still have the helicopter providing fire support while they approach with the jetpacks.
- mgolawala 5y agoAlso imagine a boarding like this occurring at night. Sure night vision goggles are ubiquitous at this point, but it is still going to be a smaller/stealthier approach compared to a helicopter. Also boardings can be done safely in far more situations, much further out to sea. You can carry a few of these on pretty much any patrol boat, a helicopter needs a take off/landing site and has an operating distance.
- chrisseaton 5y agoSometimes being smaller and more manoeuvrable is better than being better protected but larger and less manoeuvrable.
- TMWNN 5y ago>It would be much quicker to board and harder to defend if an assault team could land basically anywhere on the ship simultaneously. All of a sudden you have people assaulting from front, rear, sides, top and then downwards etc etc. Yes; see 3:45, when three people in jetsuits arrive at once. In a situation where boarding is urgent, each additional arrival increases the chance that someone will succeed in getting a ladder down.