Search found 6427 matches

by shark bait
17 Nov 2023, 10:17
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Wave Class Tanker (RFA)
Replies: 208
Views: 118976
Pitcairn Island

Re: Wave Class Tanker (RFA)

Should sell them and get extra Tide on order.
by shark bait
15 Nov 2023, 15:21
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: River Class (OPV) (RN)
Replies: 5411
Views: 1420329
Pitcairn Island

Re: River Class (OPV) (RN)

Always thought they should be 100m long, a 10m extension to the rear, so the Rivers can have a flight deck AND and mission deck at the same time.
by shark bait
14 Nov 2023, 09:45
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future ASW
Replies: 560
Views: 177288
Pitcairn Island

Re: Future ASW

A class of highly automated and minimally crewed SSK with most of the crew replaced by advanced AI may be required to bridge the gap This voids the concept even more than my last post. Humans are expensive, and they are eye-wateringly expensive to keep alive under the sea. Weather its 6 or 30 peopl...
by shark bait
14 Nov 2023, 09:40
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future ASW
Replies: 560
Views: 177288
Pitcairn Island

Re: Future ASW

It voids the concept as soon as conventional propulsion is added. Engineering a small battery powered sub is trivial, it allows engineers to concentrate on the real value adding features, the software and the sensors. Adding another propulsion train adds cost and complexity while removing payload, s...
by shark bait
14 Nov 2023, 08:49
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future ASW
Replies: 560
Views: 177288
Pitcairn Island

Re: Future ASW

4: Other tasks? As Donald points out, intelligence and decoys are the primary roles for the first couple of drone sub generations. I'd add a few 'special missions' to the list, for example delivering equipment for special forces, minelaying, or working with undersea infrastructure, but these are mo...
by shark bait
14 Nov 2023, 08:41
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future ASW
Replies: 560
Views: 177288
Pitcairn Island

Re: Future ASW

Its way too early to be that sure. You are basing your assumptions on what is possible today. The assumptions are based on physics. The energy required to sustain 20+ knots in water is huge, so much that no ship can do that for more than a couple of days. A battery would have to be comically huge t...
by shark bait
13 Nov 2023, 23:00
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future ASW
Replies: 560
Views: 177288
Pitcairn Island

Re: Future ASW

Any XLUUV shall be much much slower than SSK Probably, with no humans to keep alive there's no need to rush anywhere. Drone subs can slowly and silently patrol a patch of ocean without feeling any time pressures. You are buying a crewless SSK. The technology doesn't change But hopefully the price d...
by shark bait
13 Nov 2023, 22:53
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future ASW
Replies: 560
Views: 177288
Pitcairn Island

Re: Future ASW

Please can you go into why you think this I am just trying to get my head around this In passive mode the signal to noise ratio is very low, meaning controlling self noise is important, and increases the chance of hearing a sub. Artificial intelligence does nothing to reduce self noise, and I'm not...
by shark bait
13 Nov 2023, 22:43
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future ASW
Replies: 560
Views: 177288
Pitcairn Island

Re: Future ASW

My point is what can we expect XLUUV’s to be able to achieve by 2040? Much more than today. They won't be cruising around at high speed because that requires atomic levels of energy density. Drone subs will be comparable to other SSKs, slow and stealthy ambush predators. There's potential to be ver...
by shark bait
13 Nov 2023, 11:49
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future ASW
Replies: 560
Views: 177288
Pitcairn Island

Re: Future ASW

Poiuytrewq wrote: 13 Nov 2023, 11:01 A XLUUV that can travel huge distances at speed
What are you classing as huge distances?

In general, submarines can travel huge distances slowly, or short distances fast. Only SSNs can do both at the same time, which is out of scope for XLUUV
by shark bait
13 Nov 2023, 11:45
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future ASW
Replies: 560
Views: 177288
Pitcairn Island

Re: Future ASW

if a type 31 was fitted with the same sonar fit as a type 23 we could not use AI to filter out the knowern noise of the ship there for giving a better picture This can be done right now without AI. If the Navy strapped a sonar to the T31 it would work fine in active mode where the signal to noise r...
by shark bait
13 Nov 2023, 08:37
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future ASW
Replies: 560
Views: 177288
Pitcairn Island

Re: Future ASW

Multistatic sonar is more important for the above application, and AI could help process the huge amount of data multistatic systems collect. In a multistatic system a T31 could pull a powerful active sonar, essentially illuminating the underwater environment to be picked up by other passive sensors...
by shark bait
13 Nov 2023, 00:47
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future ASW
Replies: 560
Views: 177288
Pitcairn Island

Re: Future ASW

Yep, even take off and landing was handled by contractor's on the ground. After take off control was handed to RAF Waddington via satellite, and then handed back to a local team for landing. Lots of people are needed to operate complex drones like Reaper. On a carrier it'll be almost as difficult as...
by shark bait
10 Nov 2023, 19:24
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future ASW
Replies: 560
Views: 177288
Pitcairn Island

Re: Future ASW

The UK couldn't build an MQ-9B clone cheaper than GA who have a two decade headstart. A Bayraktar TB2 clone would be cheaper, and with that less capable.
by shark bait
10 Nov 2023, 15:51
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future ASW
Replies: 560
Views: 177288
Pitcairn Island

Re: Future ASW

Simply put, no. The MQ-9B is a big and highly instrumented aircraft that can fly in all airspace and all weather. Swapping an upwards pointing transmitter for a downwards facing one does little to reduce the complexity of the system.

Cheaper options exist because they do less.
by shark bait
10 Nov 2023, 14:05
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion
Replies: 5981
Views: 1500370
Pitcairn Island

Re: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion

the RN are operating only one high readiness task group There is no chance of the Navy operating a carrier group is one theater, and an amphibious group is another. When things heat up they are one and the same. Peace time is different, today for example, the carriers are doing different things to ...
by shark bait
10 Nov 2023, 11:40
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future ASW
Replies: 560
Views: 177288
Pitcairn Island

Re: Future ASW

ASW is a long game, also known as Awfully Slow Warfare. It is also a very difficult game, so Donald is correct, the big high endurance drones are the only useful drones for sub hunting.
by shark bait
09 Nov 2023, 11:32
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion
Replies: 5981
Views: 1500370
Pitcairn Island

Re: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion

Whilst we all complain about limitations, the UK still have a highly capable and broad spectrum force. If you require strike and long ranged ISTAR capabilities for example then we have carriers and land bases to properly operate these assets and integrate in a combined operation - there is zero rea...
by shark bait
09 Nov 2023, 11:26
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056718
Pitcairn Island

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Should the Mk45 be deleted and replaced by 4x 40mm and 64x Mk41 cells Yes. Both the smaller guns, and new VLS, are more usable than a 5 inch gun. If the tail has to go can the propulsion and quietening enhancements be downgraded to save more cash? I'm sceptical that would save anything. Ships are b...
by shark bait
08 Nov 2023, 17:50
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056718
Pitcairn Island

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

8ac625bbe4f906407be4bf8a83b7585e.jpeg That's a very angry looking T26! The Royal Navy has two good options for a future destroyer, and the time to study them. The improved Hunter is a great option with high commonality and industrial continuity. The more radical approaches sound more appealing if t...
by shark bait
08 Nov 2023, 08:47
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 23 Frigate (Duke Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 1011
Views: 397765
Pitcairn Island

Re: Type 23 Frigate (Duke Class) (RN) [News Only]

Artisan-3D relies azimuth sensing only on radar rotation, and elevation resolution on phased-array. And is allegedly being upgraded to scan electronically on the version fitted to the T26. Perhaps this is why new radars have been ordered, instead of recycling the T23 radars as originally expected.
by shark bait
08 Nov 2023, 08:44
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 23 Frigate (Duke Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 1011
Views: 397765
Pitcairn Island

Re: Type 23 Frigate (Duke Class) (RN) [News Only]

Cool photo.

Here's one with the modules removed
20231108_084301.jpg
by shark bait
07 Nov 2023, 17:28
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion
Replies: 5981
Views: 1500370
Pitcairn Island

Re: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion

is there a realistic prospect of it having sufficient beam that the superstructure on the side will still permit sufficient width to launch/recover MALE from the deck? It's a matter of restraint. If aiming for something like GA Reaper/Mojave that's almost as complex as operating an F35, and is the ...
by shark bait
07 Nov 2023, 09:32
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1464785
Pitcairn Island

Re: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]

Wonderful when a discussion board turns into a news archive!
by shark bait
07 Nov 2023, 09:28
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion
Replies: 5981
Views: 1500370
Pitcairn Island

Re: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion

The answer is simple. "Just add a Merlin capable lift" to Osumi-like or enlarged San Giorgio-like "through deck LPD". This is a concept worth considering. On a "through deck LPD", the hangar deck and well deck are the same space, meaning aviation capacity eats into the...