UK Defence Forum

The decision to send a Froce to Singapore was reasonable in the pre-December 7th world, but it's important to remember the limits of what deterrence can achieve when up against someone sufficiently determined to act. The RN could have put more ships in the East, the Dutch could have built their batt...

Other documents have discussed adding UAVs with distributed sensors to their AWACs fleet, an "E7B"with new/modernized radar could also fall under that line item, or they may be planning to take a look at whatever systems USAF finally coughs up to replace E-3&8.

Why would Germany want a carrier? Never really had one before. Purely for their own needs they don't, and likely couldn't make it happen in any kind of reasonable time frame unless they bought from someone else. But a joint carrier project presents possibilities depending on its shape. A purely Fre...

Interesting if feasible. https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/boeing-to-conduct-ski-jump-trials-for-super-hornet/ Would give the UK access to tankers & ew support from Growlers. Discuss :?: Something to remember for when discussion of the carriers' major mid-life refits gets serious, but highly unli...

so I assume that a semi submersible barge will be used. an instant buoyancy test, the USN way, is much more fun, with a bigger splash! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_wnwFpw26g MM will, thankfully, cease chucking hulls into the river sideways if they win FFGX. That is, if the synchrolift can surv...

Lord Jim wrote:Isn't this what the USN is aiming its planned Future large Surface Combatant at, it replacement for the Ticonderoga class replacement?

Depends which Admiral you talk to, on which day, sadly.

They could also lily-pad off the escorts, fueling mid-mission from a Frigate while the carrier continues Lighting ops or whatever else.

It's pylons. Even with standardized pylons, fit checks still happen. Have to check ground handling clearances, load distribution, etc.

Nicholas Drummond's idea for a Boxer based Brit Centauro complete with 120m gun. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EH9uQyvWoAMnTIZ?format=jpg&name=medium I imagine such a concept is definitely coming, but oh my does the looming Great British Tank Fight seem daunting. Maybe better to "settle"...

The turret ring on Ajax was sized for a larger weapon than 40mm as direct fire was part of the original concept family. Lots of talk about 105 and 120 mm but could 76mm with Vulcano guided rounds be made to work Vulcano may have direct-fire capability, but it's really an artillery round with a diff...

The Ajax-based GDLS entry for Mobile Protected Firepower, in miniature


Between the 105mm and Ajax DNA, there's a lot of potential here if the UK is interested in a small buy of MPF (or-like) vehicles.

Looks like that 4th F-35 is already tucked behind the forward island in the "first landings" video, could be a training bird for the deck crew.

Just covering my 6 'O' Clock there. Thanks for the info. Is the OMFV also aimed at re equipping the Stryker Brigades or are the US Army looking at creating a new style of "Cavalry" units as well as replacing the M2/M3? They've been less than clear about long-term plans for the Styker BCTs...

Wasn't the whole OMFV supposed to be based on a proven existing platform? It is a bit like GM trying to get SAAB to base there last car on an existing GM Vauxhall/Opel design with minimum changes yet they went ahead and changes over 90% of the platform. So how much is actually proven and in service...

https://www.defensenews.com/land/2019/10/04/lynx-41-disqualified-from-bradley-replacement-competition/ GDLS remains the only horse in the race for the Bradley replacement, with Griffin/ASCOD/Ajax. Could be seeing a US/UK shared hull. My dream on it is that in the end the UK, US, AUS and CAN would a...

https://www.defensenews.com/land/2019/10/04/lynx-41-disqualified-from-bradley-replacement-competition/ GDLS remains the only horse in the race for the Bradley replacement, with Griffin/ASCOD/Ajax. Could be seeing a US/UK shared hull. My dream on it is that in the end the UK, US, AUS and CAN would a...

Puzzled by why the Boxer RCH155 isn't everyone's favorite for the BA requirement. Chassis commonality - check Protection - check Tactical mobility - check Strategic mobility - check High UK content - check Shoot & scoot - check What's not to like? https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EEIBJriU8AIPMaY?for...

Made a massive boob folks it wasn’t Poseidon it was the Wedgetail. This opinion is known to lurk on this side of the pond as well, and at least shares some portion of the blame for the relatively lethargic pace of our own AWACs recap. That said, I still side with those who find a dedicated aircraft...

YouTube navalist Drachinifel shares some slides from his visits to both carriers during this stream, starting around 10:24 in case the timestamp feature bugs out.

Why not the Thales rapidfire https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/defence/rapidfire The RAPIDFire system has also been designed to enable firing of the STARStreak missile system, a Very Short Range Air Defence missile system with a speed in excess of Mach 3 and a range of around 7km. The combin...

Scimitar54 wrote:How about the "Battle" Class ?

Given how often they've mentioned 3 centerline turrets "bringing back the broadside." They should just call them the Broadside class. Or maybe just name them all after types of naval guns.

NickC wrote:Correction,
The DARPA 57 Madfires in R&D, as yet not adopted by USN, is rocket powered to give longer range, the trade-off will be smaller fragmentation warhead reducing its Pk.

MAD-FIRES is a hit-to-kill interceptor.

https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/1169146866224775168 HMS Kent passes through the Suez Canal on her way to the Gulf Via Intrepid_Sailor Interestingly, "mush room heads" are all taken off from her CAMM launchers. Presumably "ready to fire", or simply Mediterranean environmen...

There's no need to sail back with them. What's the point? They would have to fly off before QE reached Portsmouth anyway. Would it not save a fair amount of expensive fuel? Well, it depends what you do with the time. If they're just loaded on and shipped across like cargo, that's saving fuel but it...