UK Defence Forum

On the stands the Neuron style flying wing is next to the still covered FCAS.

But it looks like Dassault have a number of other Loyal Wingmen concepts outside...

Looks like the French and Germans are gearing up with a retaliatory mock up of FCAS/NGF at Le Bourget. Should be revealed tomorrow.. In the CGI it appears that the FCAS will have tails after all, but the stand model doesn't appear to, can't tell from the full sized mock-up photos seen so far. It is ...

A number of articles now reporting issues surrounding f35s that are making there way public https://www.defensenews.com/smr/hidden-troubles-f35/ Lockheed have come out with some answers to the list of issues. Looks like the supersonic issue on B's and C's will affect practically none of the UK's fl...

You say that, but workshare issues are a fundamental and priced in part of that programme. With Tempest it'll be a no less long and complex process of negotiation for workshare and the like with potential partners, but it'll be on an ad-hoc basis that will likely end up pleasing nobody. For Tempest...

Scimitar54 wrote: "Most of our previous Carriers have had Ski-Ramps". Three out of how many? The mind boggles.

Think you're forgetting Hermes...

"This would avoid repeating the UK’s experience as a member of the four-nation Eurofighter consortium, where he argues “preservation of the purity of the workshare arrangements sometimes seemed to be the main aim of the programme”." Thats the key part and its where Tempest has a massive ad...

You would think a plane as sophisticated as f35 would have a override to protect the pilot and get to steady level flight like others do. There aren't any that deploy automatically though, the MiG-29 one was a button press that resulted in a wings level, low rate of climb. But it still needed the p...

It looks like the recent Japanese fatal F-35 crash was a CFT. The recovery effort seems to have ceased following the recovery of the pilots remains. This might be the reason why they're not spending an age on the recovery effort. Near vertical crash into the ocean at m0.9 from 14,000 ft. There prob...

With all of the Seedcorn instructor crews already operational on US P-8 there must now be a fairly decent sized MPA crew set up in place already. 2 new crews qualified, with 2-3 already operational under Seedcorn with another 2 more in the pipeline. P-8 will probably be the smoothest introduction to...

Some lovely photos here:

It looks like the recent Japanese fatal F-35 crash was a CFT. The recovery effort seems to have ceased following the recovery of the pilots remains.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-48578178

SKB wrote:^ New artists impression of the RAF P-8A Poseidon

It looks great...but can't help but think it would look better in hemp...

SKB wrote:Found a video of QE passing underneath the Forth Rail Bridge...!

Must have been a windy day! The flag on the stern is pointing forard even though they're making a decent speed under the bridges. Wouldn't have wanted to be the person making the video up there on the bridge!

Would be great to see a Harrier drop on board from Italy or the USMC. In many ways it would be good. I think the scale of QE with a Harrier on board would be an interesting view. But at the same time it would ignite the entire 'should have retained Harrier' argument and 'we could have had an operat...

I will be spending a week at Wattisham in the summer where I will also be visiting Marham , Honington and 16 air Assault at Colchester so if there are any questions anyone would liked asked I would be happy to put them forward I'd genuinely be interested in views on other weapons other than Hellfir...

HMS Dragon have just tweeted the confirmation that they will escort QNLZ on Westlant 19. Wonder who else....? I wonder if one of the Tides will make it over there this time. Does anyone know if the UK waters workup to Westland 19 is involving Fort Vic? Now she's out of re-fit presumably they'll sta...

Apaches join HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time So, so far thats the following aircraft who have landed on QE (although trials need to be concluded for most): UK F-35B Merlin HM.2 Merlin HC.4 Wildcat Chinook Apache For the UK just Merlin Crowsnest to go and all elements of the TAG will have bee...

RichardIC wrote:Is that the floatation gear on the inner pylons?

Believe the flotation gear (part of it) is between the pylons mounted directly to the stub wing. In the large image it's above the Hellfire launcher on the port side.

To support the CSG on extended deployments we really need the SSS to be at least as capable as Fort Victoria, but I fear with money tight we may see something more akin to the Italian design. The Italian design in its current guise is a non starter, I'd question if its actually big enough if adapte...

So now the MOD even goes to the lengths of altering the conditions of the deal, to help foreign shipyards bid for the FSSS :- https://www.defensenews.com/industry/20 ... ish-ships/ The worrying bit from that is that it mentions that the main change was the demand for a new ship. Shipyards could bid...

Not that appearance is particularly important or reflective of capability... Although I do recall it had an interesting well deck, which I’m sure would have it’s uses. The Well Deck was only on the concept graphics for the MARS Amphibious Support Ship of which there were to be 2. Not MARS SSS. The ...

The entire story of how Apache and Wildcat don't share any weapons, despite Brimstone, CRV-7 PG and LMM/Starstreak clearly being relevant to both platforms will likely be a story one day. I'm sure its not due to the users not wanting them... I should add. We know that LMM could be integrated easily...

I have always wondered why we have not bought the APKWS kits for the CVR-7s used by out Apaches? APKWS is the most elegant engineering solution out there for converting unguided rockets to guided. But CRV-7 has its own manufacturer who developed their own precision guided version the CRV-7 PG. Appa...

That's when we will be asked for the "ransom" money - well, it keeps coming back. And they keep not buying anybody else's "stuff" That's why I'm a believer in only buying 90 odd F-35B (93 would be nice as it would give us 90 operational a/c, who doesn't like round numbers..) and...

IV has 4 blocks within it (though officially it is "iterative" and "agile" so no such thing applies anymore) I based it more on the 5 year contract, looks like it will conclude just when Block IV starts. They will soon change their mind as the less manoeurable glide bombs will n...