Presumably a full air wing courtesy of the USMC.

I have to agree, apart from the T26 design, (which may be were all the energy has been directed) BAE has hardly set the world alight with its ship design and innovation. Adapted VT designs is all it has really offered. Compared with Naval or Damen and the difference in ambition is clear. I fear you...

Haha. It's a single supplier, single customer relationship. All the money comes from the tax payer one way or another. All nation is doing the same = single supplier. The issue is NOT on its being single, BUT on how to promote it. Only if UK has twice the ship-building budget of France, Spain, and ...

There is no money Tax payer is paying regarding the HMS Forth's defects. Even HMS Tynes recommission is reported to be paid by BAE. Good value for money. Haha. It's a single supplier, single customer relationship. All the money comes from the tax payer one way or another. Wrong! You clearly have ze...

I don't think he could have been an aeronautical engineer. The reason for two engines is that for the major thrust that a fighter needs, a 2 engine layout enables a less draggy airframe.

Lord Jim wrote:Aircraft like the Typhoon are very capable but are not Air Superiority platforms

Are you drunk?

I expect both consortia (like everyone else, I'm ignoring the German team), will continue to develop their designs at their own expense.

The MoD will just have saved the cost of the design phase. Sneaky.

Maybe they used the saved money to build the airfix Tempest model shown at Farnborough.

From USNI News: LONDON — Plans to build five Type 31e frigates for the Royal Navy have been thrown into disarray after Britain’s defense chiefs decided to pause the procurement competition. At least three industry teams are vying to build the new maritime security-focused platforms, the first of whi...

From the Times: Government plans to buy a “budget frigate” within five years have been thrown into chaos after a competition to build the warship was suspended amid a funding crisis. Sources warned last night that the Type 31e frigate may never materialise. It is a serious blow for the Royal Navy, w...

The programme has been quietly on hold for sometime and the awarding of contracts under the Competitive Design Phase was being held off until MDP reported. Given the failure of even headline budgets to have been agreed in MDP so far, the bidders were informed on Friday (the day after the MDP update...

To me it does seem to be an odd time to cancel to program based on price. I though the idea was that to this point, the MoD and shipbuilders would agree to a spec that all felt had a decent chance of being built for the money. The next step would have a couple or three of the contenders do a detaile...

I think there are three possible reasons for this: 1. There's only two bidders as far as we know, Babcocks and Cammel Laird. One of them may have decided to pull out of the competition. If so, this would not surprise me, it would be a very brave executive that would sign a cast iron, fixed price, fi...

You are all assuming the reason the Type 31e program was halted was because one or both of the entries could not be built for 250 million.

That's just someone's guess. Someone that doesn't know any more than anyone here.

Have the vulcano rounds actually been confirmed for the Type 26? Mk45 is BAE. BAE is working on smart ammo and it will get adopted. The USN won't want to be left behind and once they adopt it other users will too. It's BAE with Leonardo, based on the Vulcano round. https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/b...

Digger22 wrote:It must be the heat! I've seen that coverage diagram before too!

Must be affecting my eyesight as well because I'm damned if I can see a Phalanx in that photo.

There is no money Tax payer is paying regarding the HMS Forth's defects. Even HMS Tynes recommission is reported to be paid by BAE. Good value for money. Haha. It's a single supplier, single customer relationship. All the money comes from the tax payer one way or another. Wrong. Money to fix these ...

A few points cross my mind: 1. Wouldn't a next gen Gripon need to carry weapons and extra fuel internally for LO? In which case, wouldn't it have to be larger? 2. Why would a larger twin engined aircraft have to be so much more expensive if built to the same standards regarding systems? Yes, the ext...

The UK are going to get the vehicles at exactly the same price as the US army. The spares, training, service & support will be extra and tailored to the UK requirements. Plus the FMS surcharge, of course. Whatever that's at these days. The surcharge is not for profit making. It just passes on t...

Because they moved everything to Scotland where the T26's and T31's are to be built. So there was nothing for Portsmouth to build, so they closed it to save money, ruined lives and a traditional of building warships in Portsmouth. What would Portsmouth have built then? Take away the orders from the...

Drayson wanted all UK warship building concentrated in one company. From what I have read that is the truth. Two extra characters in the name can make a big difference in the outcome... how long did it take the Gvmnt to try and rectify that mistake - sure, the rectifying medicine is still in "...

The F35 was, but then it tried to develop three different aircraft at the same time and ended up costing more. No surprise. Big lesson for the next generation is focus on doing less and doing it better. I don't believe the UK should go down the single engine route, that pretty much precludes the UK...

BAE didn't build the original Rivers or the Brazilian export version (Amazonas class). Vosper Thornycroft did, at their original Woolston yard (S**th*mpt*n) and at VT Portsmouth, where HMS Mersey (P283) was the last Portsmouth built River made. Then BAE took VT over (because of their success export...

The UK are going to get the vehicles at exactly the same price as the US army.

The spares, training, service & support will be extra and tailored to the UK requirements.

mr.fred wrote:It’s about the same length, but the 30mm is 50% larger diameter, so you’d get a little more than twice as many .50 BMG rounds

Why don't you find out instead of guessing?