If the type 26, an advanced anti-submarine frigate comes in to service without ASROC then I just cant even anymore...

I'm not trying to run the RN down or pretend I know better, I'm just trying to understand better whether such practices today are typical (by our historical standards and those of our peers today) or whether it's linked to a shortage of escorts I think a bit of both. Lack of escort availability is ...

I'll put my tinfoil hat on and speculate that China's moves to militerise the SCS whilst at the same time opening up the "silk road" route to the west overland are part of a cunning plan to neutralise the effects of western sea power. Nothing tin foil hatty about that. That is literally w...

Frenchie wrote:Ajax with Javelin

Export variant...

I am hoping that with HMS Albion now in the med, HMS Duncan will soon be heading back to the UK and that it can link up with HMS QE, HMS Somerset and RFA Wave Ruler. All we need then is an Astute to pop its head up and we have ourselfs a mini carrier group.

Lord Jim wrote:If we end up using CEAFAR on the T-26 then the Artisan from the T-23s would be available

Why wont they be available if we use Artisan?

But anyway, T31e's "1.3B GBP" is very small issue compared to 6-20B GBP lack. I dont have much faith in the MOD, but they still think there is many billions worth of efficiencies to be made still over the 10 year period, of which I believe at least a few will be completed. £20b is the wor...

If additional funding isn't forthcoming it may be that we lose and additional 1 (or 2) T26 to provide the T31 budget I think the 8 type 26s are safe. They needed a minimum of 6 type 45s to provide escort to the carriers, the type 26s have to do the carriers and the deterrent, so 8 is pretty much as...

Does that mean that the whole T26 budget will be used getting 8 T26, rather than part of it being used to build the T31e? I think most of the original 13 boat type 26 budget is been used up on 8 boats. They may be scraping the barrel for the £1.25b for the type 31s. That remaining £3.75b has disapp...

Anyone know when HMS Argyll is deploying to the pacific?

It is going to be a fun news day.

Hopefully they depart tomorrow, depends on how long it takes for the software to be fixed and tested.

At least the sprinklers work...

R686 wrote:Gee you like stirring the pot

Stirring the pot makes the outcome so much more delicious.

Now the MCM ships to be lost are 5, with the 2 Hunt going because they were in for expensive refits. Easy cuts, "easy" money (but for what was already committed and cannot be recovered). Could the 2 recent ships to leave service not be including in the original plan, just far earlier than...

Gabriele wrote:Under A2020 refine it's 1 tank regiment, 2 battalions on Warrior plus 2 Reserve battalions paired and no Cavalry as all Ajax regiments are swallowed by Strike.

Did not know that. Is there going to be AJAX attached to the tank regiments in a scout role?

Any chance they might reverse the decision to reduce the numbers in the on-going review? Not unless they decide to keep the armored brigade, which will only happen if they remove one or both of the strike brigades. Even if we wanted to, I dont think we can afford not to because we are not upgrading...

If this is the case, and the equipment is installed later outside of the T31 programme, with it's £250 million cap, what would the final upgraded T31 look like? Would it then be a decent light frigate? To me, it needs to be as capable as the type 23 GP is now, minus the large number of CAMM and wit...

227 + 118 removed in 2010 = 345

Any idea what happened to the other 62? Hopefully they are in storage somewhere. Also hoping the latest batch to get scrapped with the armored brigade are put in storage encase we need them in the future.

Some hopeful news for once.

https://www.forces.net/news/gavin-willi ... ity-review

It says: “eight Warrior infantry fighting vehicles upgraded to Warrior 2” Rather than “partly upgraded”, so maybe? What were you expecting? From what I had heard over the last year, the project was having some difficulties, so I was quite surprised that they have a working prototype ready for testi...

New version of Bushmaster was unveiled this week at IAV.

http://defense-update.com/20180124_bushmaster_mr6.html

https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/land- ... le-program

It has already been confirmed that the UK's vehicle storage depot at Ayrshire Barracks in Germany will remain open for at least four years after the last troops withdraw in 2019. We still apparently have over 1000 vehicles stored there and most likely will for years to come. Would be interested to k...

RetroSicotte wrote:http://www.janes.com/article/77318/iav- ... our-trials

Is this the completed vehicle? or is it just one part of the upgrade program been tested?

Thanks, fewer than I had expected... This is originally what was said. "In January 2017, it was confirmed that the Army had started negotiations to purchase the Oshkosh Joint Light Tactical Vehicle from the United States to fulfil the MRV-P Group 1 requirement. The expectation is that 750 such...

If the men are here and their equipment in Germany what are they going to train on? Are the Germans going to let us have our vehicles if needed for a non eu/NATO task? Are they then going to allow our ships to use european ports to load equipment for a conflict they might not agree with? Who is goi...