No datalink?

What the actual hell, that datalink was the defining thing for a helicopter in this role. So there we go, Royal Navy's over the horizon targeting just became even more outdated.

That'd be a shock if it did. Suddenly the F-35B would become the premier maritime fighter in the world. Ain't that a shock after all the C vs B concerns for QE, eh? And I say that from the standpoint of me being someone who back then was saying "C is the only option". That said, I feel it ...

The real issue with "being okay with" going from 19 major escorts to 14 major escorts + 5 weaker light escorts is that you'll only ever get 14 proper escorts in future from that point on, because then it's "we'll replace 1 for 1". THAT is why I've eternally opposed the idea of Ty...

shark bait wrote:"logistical issues..... It's a dull, boring side"

What? logistics are awesome!

Very true, just figured other might not always think that way!

And development costs to retrofit all that, with all the prevailing restrictions on power usage, networking, ergonomics, crew protection, software rewrites. I guess I'm just a little confused why you would want to take a perfectly good helicopter, and spend even more to develop a basically new versi...

Literally the entire airframe and almost all of its systems are unique and specified to its task. If you strip all of that out and put it into a transport helo along with the same weapons, the same cockpit elements and then modified the airframe to let it move like an Apache does in its role, then y...

Could a LCVP be carried instead of the PTB? Maybe that's one of the mods being carried out on POW. Strict theory, yes, probably. But then the carrier has just lost its service boats, which could cause some logistical issues for the carrier's general movements in port. It's a dull, boring side to it...

http://www.janes.com/article/67246/uk-confirms-fms-jltv-buy-for-mrv-p It is expected that around 750 JLTVs will be bought as part of MRV-P Group 1 . When pressed for delivery timelines Maj Gen Talbot Rice declined to provide a date, however he stated that UK deliveries could be expected to follow sh...

Why not? What stopping use strapping a bunch of rockets and missiles on the side of a utility helicopter, and getting a single all round platform? Because simply carrying the weapons makes up almost nothing of why an Apache is so powerful in its role. Blackhawk doesn't have anything like the radar,...

Replacing Apache with a transport helicopter really wouldn't be a particularly effective decision in terms of combat capability, in my opinion.

However, Wildcat with additional offensive elements to replace the 17 Apache's the UK lost? Yes. Please.

News thread folks, general theorizing is to be over in the Escorts thread.

Hah, that is actually quite a surprise.

Always been willing to hear other sides.

Here's a crazy idea. Why don't Australia and the UK swap amphibious vessels? We are dreadfully short of flattops and will have a STOVL aircraft, while many Australians I've spoken to are very unhappy with the Canberra as not entirely suitable to their needs, not having enough helos to justify the bi...

It's not impossible in theory. I'd have to confirm this but I think the Leclerc's can be. It's just very awkward and requires turning the turret. It's not an inherantly unusual thing, the Leopard 2 for example has to turn its turret 90 degrees away to replenish its turret stocks every 15-18 shots. (...

https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2017-01-12/debates/3A81630E-EFF1-4294-9089-18FC9C18C696/ArmedForcesCapability Many many people in the recent debate highlight real issues, problems and mistakes. Earl Howe dismisses them all, ignores them all and refuses to answer anything. Thanks to Gabe for me n...

Falcon Turret isn't unmanned though. It's just a low crew position, they're still in the turret itself.

Trojan also deployed on Op. Herrick. The dry canyons were too wide even for Titan? How does it compare, btw, with the 26m bridge that a Leo2 can lay (even the US Army uses it under a different name, Wolverine)? - sometimes it is good to have a speedier option, on wheels, to deliver the bridge to wh...

ArmChairCivvy wrote:Yep, I wonder how many we have of them?

75 CRARRV
33 Titan
33 Trojan

Wandering a bit far folks. News Thread.

First I've heard of a Warrior "APC". The numbers of ABSV would be so crucial to offsetting how few vehicles there are. If 380 Warriors are being upgrades, that leaves a good other 300 or so they can play with for various roles in being converted to ABSV. (As I highly doubt we'll see newbui...

Would not trust them in power still.

However, if they exert enough pressure to make the Tories go back to the old method to retain votes, then it will be a good outcome.

https://www.strategyanalytics.com/strategy-analytics/blogs/components/defense/defense/2011/10/24/dsei-2011-aesa-radar-wideband-technologies-and-the-expanding-mission-envelope-of-uav-platforms#.WG5-rH3GEx4 Key trends observed at the show confirmed Strategy Analytics assertions related to AESA radar ,...

Many thanks. Hopefully I'll live long enough to find out about artisan and its competitors! Interesting that some sources seem to indicate it's in some superior to herakles, I've also seen other people compare it less flatteringly to herakles too though. Artisan is almost certainly superior to Hera...

I can't actually recall any BAE two-piece ammo being made lately at all. Any "price" of it would certainly involve remaking the production line.