UK Defence Forum

Perhaps BAE didn’t want the work and put in the bare minimum effort for their bid to be credible and create a competition (keeping the Govt happy). They have more than enough design and build work with T26 and they have already stated the profit margin on T31 was unattractive for them. Perhaps this ...

One thing I’ve not seen discussed is the fact that LMM on wildcat will, presumably, give it an air to air weapon to deal with enemy helicopters.

I'd be very curious to know how powerful that shaped charge is. Right now it's not being seen as an AT missile, but it could be a darkhorse threat. I definitely think there's some additional utility in LMM that needs explored. Comparing it to other AT missiles that are man guided and with a fairly ...

Thinking outside the box in a retro kind of way....plenty of Rapier coming available soon? Low cost low pain weapon readily available. Crane on, bolt down stand alone system. Nah, how about a couple of AS90 parked on the heli deck, proper NGFS. the navy must be bonkers to not have thought of this b...

I’ve no idea why were supporting the Spanish economy when they behave the way they do over Gibraltar. Would much rather we supported proper allies.

I wonder if there’s any chance of codeveloping/procuring something with the Australians. They’re looking for a SPG too and we seem to be working very closely on procurement at the moment.

shark bait wrote:However if they could prove a few SSK's could be used to increase Nuke boat on station time, mostly by taking over training roles, then perhaps then it could be a worth wile expenditure.

agreed!

If there was new money to boost submarine detection around the UK, why is an SSK the best way to go? Why does the it need to be covert if operating around friendly shores? Not if there was new money, I can't see the submarine budget getting increased substantially to make a difference to fleet numb...

Sounds good but it should include the option for an additional 3 boats if RN are happy with the performance of the design and dependant on the first batch being delivered on time and on budget. I'd cap it at four. The SSKs should have a very limited role, any additional money should be spend on SSN...

I was initially against a SSK option but have now come round to the idea, it seems some in the RN want them too. We should give BAE a fixed price contract of about 1.2Bn to design and build 3 SSKs at Barrow. They should use as many parts and components as possible from the Astutes/Dreadnoughts to ke...

I wonder if building 10 T26 and then selling on ships 1 & 2, after 10 years of use, to NZ (or someone else, Brazil?) would be economically viable. Few countries that can afford a brand new T26 will not want to build them themselves, the second hand market might be more lucrative?

Does Russia count?

So the faults have all been rectified then? I was expecting a longer delay especially given the hysteria in the media at the time. Anyone seen any reports on the rectifications?

I thought it was being put forward for Germany too.

I’m guessing bombs from directly above. The type 56 only has very short range SAM.

Unless using Croatian google was a clever deception, Comrade.

To paraphrase what the Iranians said few days ago: "Color me as not convinced" Nope - Google doesn't come up with anything for "Color me as not convinced" and Iran. Link please, so that we know what you're wibbling about this time. Dishonest, as well, to doctor my post, so as to...

Wedgetail was probably part of the T26 deal. No bad thing in my book.

Seen it on other variants too, looks like an air filter or similar.

Time for a quick project rename to T26e

The inclusion of Artisan could be a very clever move from a future exports point of view.

Having to get Warriors and Ajax to constantly roll around with Boxer simply to have them not get outgunned immediately defeats the entire advantage of Boxer in the first place. There's a reason that every military worth their salt is putting credible firepower in with these types of units. Surely t...

We just need new partners. Let’s look to other allies who have or want an aerospace industry. Italy, Spain, Sweden, Australia, Japan, Brazil even some of the Middle East countries who are investing in typhoon.

We’re probably better off without France and Germany for co-development projects.

I asked this previously and was told that submarines are designed around the propulsion system. You cant change the propulsion without changing the whole submarine.

I'd say it's more likely the work will be transferred away from Farnborough and the MP is trying to get the a positive endorsement from the PM making it more difficult to cut the work in the future. Too cynical?