RAF have taken delivery of a new MQ-9 Reaper. This will bring the RAF Reaper fleet back up to 10, following the retirement of the earliest example in 2019 (which was delivered in 2007) This also raises questions about the Reapers fleet post Protector delivery...it might end up being retained in serv...

Things could be about to get even more unhappy in France / Germany world.....speculation that Germany has finally lost patience with Tiger and is looking to get AH-64. Unhappiness at upgrade cost, reliability and industrial participation. With the Australian's already heading for the exit this would...

With the ongoing A model engine fracas I'd be fairly relaxed about delaying until it's certain that there isn't an enhanced power plant option for the B. However the RAF fast jet fleet is not exactly overflowing with aircraft post-IR. The only possibility of an enhanced engine for the B is the F-13...

ArmChairCivvy wrote:The Spanish number seems like the Italian one.. ever shrinking. But keeping the balance (between the navy and the AF)

This is the first time I've seen a number for the Spanish...and its about 3 times larger than I ever expected...

- Decision on future numbers not to be made till 2025 (which suggests a gap in procurement unless LockMart is keeping some slots for us) Given the c2 year lead time that means no deliveries in 2026. However, it might be the fact that the current re-profiling to the UK's deliveries over the next cou...

LM are pushing the F-35 to 4 new countries in Europe at the moment. Obviously Finland with the HX Competition is one, the other 3 are the Czech Republic, apparently for 40 F-35A, Greece (no surprise) and Spain. The Spanish numbers quoted were an eye opener, remember this is LM's proposal, not a Span...

Looks like the Royal Marines are enjoying themselves again.... https://uk.news.yahoo.com/royal-marines-force-us-troops-133503844.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucmVkZGl0LmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHAKmlflpgoxQG82Ay1MHIsvxELRk_KqFq3PNItBAwOsgTsVIs2s8UfGJW3JgoeTKWOSvma8RJqKv...

The good news is that any experienced nuclear engineer will be able to name their terms for a relocation package to Australia. I wonder if they will be required to take out Australian nationality as a security control. Pretty certain that both the UK and US will make sure that the Australian's agre...

I would gift them to Greece in the interest of NATO co-operation & maybe a interest in the Tempest end product in the far future ....or more 2nd hand Tiffies when they get replaced - & the french reaction would be a bonus but i agree the french would put loads of pressure on the possible tr...

Surprised about the C engine I always thought the A and C shared the same engine. Anyone know the difference? Apparently its to do with the arrestor hook area. No space. These F-35's will have 3F software? Yes, Block IV is not released yet. However these aircraft have been built with it in mind. Bu...

The 3 new aircraft are at Marham. Should be 13 there at present (for the remainder of the 24 UK owned aircraft 3 are in the US, 8 on QE).

Bit surprised by this, the direct quote from the Greek Defence Minister isn't in the article so how much weight to put behind it I have no idea...

https://www.aerotime.aero/29315-greece- ... r-typhoons

It's going to be interesting to see what design they choose to replace the 6 20m RHIBS that were bought from BP for the Channel. Whilst they're very seaworthy, having spent the previous 10 years in the North Sea as Rescue Boats on Oil Rig Support Vessels, I can imagine that the Border Force will wan...

Made a rod for my own back here....time to update this again... Here's the delivery timeline again...any changes since last time in Red So of the UK's '48' here's the status: Note - Delivery is 'usually' a minimum of 2 years after order. Delivered to date (N.B. Dates below are order date) LRIP 1 - A...

And weirdly I actually saw this Dutch F-35 trail heading out in the opposite direction on Monday, over Whitby. The KC-10 taking them over is a USAF one, and not the last Dutch KDC-10 that was in air at the same time on its way to Omega Air in Duluth. The F-35 are heading to the US for training (8 F-...

The 3 aircraft (down from the expected 6 this year) will be on the way shortly. RAF have taken delivery.

SW1 wrote: I was referring to team tempest, Saab are part of team aren’t they.

They are, but 2 of the other consortium members are likely to favour Spear-EW.

Reality is this LADM might not see fruition if the Finn's don't purchase Gripen, Spear-EW is years ahead in practice.

Have to wonder why they're bothering.... Different or better capabilities? I don't doubt Saab has good EW capabilities, but there's only so much that can be done with the space and power available in a Spear form factor, and when it comes to minituarised EW payloads the BriteCloud seems to be out t...

Future combat system partners stand off weapons.. Doubtful. For Tempest the UK and Italy would both go with Spear-EW with Leonardo's BriteCloud inside, for FCAS Saab aren't in the mix. Germany with Airbus, Hensoldt and Diehl involved won't want anybody else involved in the EW space. They seem set o...

Bring Deeps wrote:Just seen something on SM that said next 3 are on their way over to the UK.

That will be it for this year by the sounds of it.

As part of their HX Proposal for the Finnish fighter replacement programme alongside the Gripen E/F and Globaleye AEW aircraft, Saab also proposed a small EW missile, the LADM, as a sweetener, with some development work promised for Finland if it went ahead. https://www.saab.com/newsroom/press-relea...

dmereifield wrote:Presumably UK builds?

It would be nice...Appledore?

But Damen seems to be the place to go for standardised builds at a decent turnaround.

Don't think its the entire fleet. It's the 4 x 42m cutters (Seeker, Searcher, Valiant and Vigilant) and possibly the ex-Finnish Telka Class, HMC Protector.

Either way its not a spectacular sum of money...

Thanks for the reply but I was trying to understand if a radar system that could detect a ballistic missile but had no missiles of its own could pass such data to an escorting ship that did via a sensor network https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/ ... her-172512 In essense thats exactly what Aeg...

Lots of things not clear there - sounds like the UK are providing two ships quite rapidly, according to that. What, where, how and when? If it's not even contracted yet, it isn't going to be prompt. Does this refer to 2 UK built missile boats (is it still 2, I thought it was reduced to 1), or is th...