UK Defence Forum

Which once again shows what an idiotic move it was to bin Fort George!! I have a feeling the decision on the FSSS is going to be pushed back and back as the various groups argue over things like where it is built, is it a warship etc. They have a pot of money but they seem to want more than this ca...

Why would Germany want a carrier? Never really had one before. I don't think that it's about Germany wanting an aircraft carrier, I think that it's about creating a capability that would necessitate greater integration of EU member state navies. I think it's more about France trying to get Germany ...

RichardIC wrote:

inch wrote:possible french / German second of class carrier

Where on earth has that been proposed?

Wasn’t it floated last year as a “joint” European carrier based off the next french design, I believe Merkal was in support of the idea.

What happened to Boris’ little speech last week if we are not going back to austerity, we’ve had 10 years of it a different approach is needed ? Cuts of 5% plus across the board seem very much more of the same not a change of path. He's also going to have to face questions about spending all that (...

I would agree in part that with the two carriers we have loads of space for RN types even RAF and AAC as well but for me we come back to the fact that we would need both carriers one in strike fit and the other in LPH and if we don't have both then we would be pushed and operational tasks would be ...

That chart really shows how capable Fort Vic is and how well she stacks up compared to the rest of west. And what a mistake it was to get rid of Fort George. The two older Forts should have been scrapped. Couldn’t agree more, it really shows they’re even more than a match for the US’s Lewis & C...

A quick and dirty comparison of Naval Auxiliaries from around the world. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EcOqUJNXgAIjLot?format=png&name=900x900 The Farnco-Italian design and Navantia's might both be a tad small Plus simple tankers do not convert well because zero consideration given to intermediat...

What happened to Boris’ little speech last week if we are not going back to austerity, we’ve had 10 years of it a different approach is needed ?

Cuts of 5% plus across the board seem very much more of the same not a change of path.

Just wouldn't surprise me that after the first batch there will be either a massive slow down (24months per ship) or cut to the numbers to help with the financial "black hole" Just thinking what would be an ok outcome, it would keep the workforce working, the politicians could spin that t...

Just wouldn't surprise me that after the first batch there will be either a massive slow down (24months per ship) or cut to the numbers to help with the financial "black hole" Just thinking what would be an ok outcome, it would keep the workforce working, the politicians could spin that t...

The way I see it is short term Argus will soon go with no replacement and the QEs + Fort Vic will be tied together so the question is how to provide aviation for LRG on the cheap and gives the best all round for the RN. Option 1 - Bring back the 2 points and convert the to LSS or convert 2 of the re...

clearing out the over entitaled civil service Please differentiate between the Senior Civil Service and those who actually work for a living. It really (biting one's tongue) annoys me when ignorant people don't I am sorry that is what I was getting at with the over entitaled, I was not referring to...

After a very lengthy and troubled gestation, both T26 and T31 are progressing. With international sales T26 is looking like a genuine success. Any amateur student of the RN over the last few decades will know that it is inevitable - inevitable - that the forthcoming Cummings led security review wil...

What do we think it’d roughly cost to go for option 2 of a full width by 20m+ hanger bring the Albion pretty much to what the original planned design was for them ? With the expected reduction in large scale amphibious op woul going from a twin chinook / triple merlin flight deck to a single chinook...

After a very lengthy and troubled gestation, both T26 and T31 are progressing. With international sales T26 is looking like a genuine success. Any amateur student of the RN over the last few decades will know that it is inevitable - inevitable - that the forthcoming Cummings led security review wil...

If a cost-effective means of providing permanent hangars and aviation support on the Albions were found My view is that with two CVFs, an Argus replacement (in a Aviation Support Ship role), and RFA Fort Victoria the RN will have enough aviation support. I’d argue that since Argue will be going wit...

I hope this will lead to more importance and investment in this area within defence rather than just a rebranding or exercise. The uk moving to bring in a uk equivalent to the US mk 6 patrol boat for use across a range of operations both manned and unmanned would be a welcome development. Iv though...

If it was down to me I’d go with something along these lines. First I’d cancel the T31s as they are and restart it with the aim being 5 Absalon style vessels. These would be able to do the current “frigate” work envisioned for the T31s while giving them a secondary small scale amphibious raiding cap...

I can’t think of a situation that an LPD type vessel would be used in where and hanger wouldn’t of good benefit. Sure, having a hanger can always be useful, but is it the best way to spend the money - having hangars and support crew is not cheap and takes up space / means the design is a compromise...

We have to remember the only reason the Albion’s today don’t have hangers is because penny pinching. This and the fact they were to operate with the LPH HMS Ocean With the loss of HMS ocean we’ve seen the weakness of that thinking though. Planning a new vessel in the same way ( that it’ll mostly be...

Looking at similar ships for other navies that could be good models for a new ship class for global RN Company level operations, IMO the Cheon Wang Bong-class of South Korea is very interesting. - Capable of transporting 200 marines - upto 3 LCM sized landing ships - 8 large vehicles - Range of 8,0...

Before we get carried away are any UAVs that could supplement the F35s STOVL capable ? If not then the discussion is mute. Indeed, but having recently seen video of the Chinese, I think it was, operating what looked like fairly conventional aircraft off a ski-jump equipped carrier, with arrestor ge...

Some of the literature I have seen w/ Valkyrie (X-58) discusses sub 10m USD per uni The Australian "Loyal Wingman" project stated a target cost of $2m/unit recently. Even if it costs 2 or 3 times that, they will be very interesting (and cheap). Absolutely, wouldn't be surprised if they be...

either way evenly split between the two (8+8 or 12+12) The thinking that the helicopter carrier function will be delivered by the QEC class, routinely at the same time as delivering carrier striken fell by the wayside in the first half of the past decade and 'tailored airwing' concept got to the fo...

NO NO NO a strike carrier has no place in a amphib group it needs to stay to far out to sea and if it to be used then Merlin HC-4 needs to go and be replace by MV-22 to allow the RM to be moved further faster allowing the carrier to stay out at sea Edit my view is 1 LHD would replace the 2 Albion's...