To even propose such an assumption, means that the people giving advice have not got a full understanding of the minimum capacity to make a capability effective. With just three we would if lucky have two available at any one time meaning that we would have another either/or decision. Have AWACS co...

Whether it's true or not I don't know. However one should treat all stories from the press with healthy scepticism. It's not just the 'press' who have picked this up. It's also the defence journo's and analysts. Most of whom have called their sources and been given the same detail. Looks like LOS F...

And I will repeat that once those sonobuyos have been dropped somewhere else than in the MTF's immediate vicinity (why would they be dropped there, in the first place?), then having a USV with good speed AND endurance to be sent there (launch facilities permitting ) would be mighty useful : to have...

If you take a step back your proposing developing a brand new future air system of systems and your wanting saab and Sweden involved to help develop it and put up money to cover costs but don’t want them involved in what could arguable be a central part of it and go with Boeing to have commonality ...

Costs have risen from £1.5bn to £2.1bn in 6 months as well....this might just be a shot across Boeing's bows. Ultimately if you cannot control costs to that extent as a supplier you're in trouble in any business. Given the short timelines to delivery its near impossible for the MoD to have managed t...

A rumour, ISDR speculation or attempt to re-negotiate a non-competed contract? Who knows...

The changes to Queen Elizabeth prior to the upcoming GROUPEX and JW.: That sounds like the compartments for the USMC weren't totally finished at build? Were they just empty spaces requiring speccing then installation? I suppose it makes sense to a degree as kit and requirements could change in the ...

"RE " the world could do with a new advanced LWT" the new one from Saab was just tested both with a surface launch and from a sub - but, yes, agree: we should not lose the expertise" Problem with the Swedish gear is that a lot of the times its, quite rightly, developed specifical...

Something you don't see very often (if ever)... 2 bits of good news on UK Torpedo's..the Spearfish upgrade had been delayed by a shortage of submarine time for the test programme, looks like it will complete soon. Then the (tenatative) very early next steps for a new Lightweight Torpedo. Stingray is...

Ordnance? QE will need some onboard for JW as apparently it includes both inert and live weapons releases. Must be a very limited number as they're not keen on moving munitions onboard in Portsmouth and as far as I'm aware the new munitions facility at Loch Striven ihas only just started its big re...

Claims that Greece is getting 18 Rafale, 8 of which being free from the French Air Force’s own fleet. There was a time when the French AF had options on a further 9 Rafale. I wonder if (if its true) this will be an exercise in getting rid of their 8 oldest examples, whilst exercising the old option...

one of the options being considered would be to use the forward section of the decommissioned submarine and plug it to the aft section of Perle. Saphir‘s hull is currently in Cherbourg while Perle is still in Toulon. Along with scrapping her outright that sounds like the most sensible move, there's...

Lord Jim wrote:Is it possible to strip out the Army's Wildcat so that it basically becomes a Lynx AH-9?

What would you strip out? There's no radar on the Army's Wildcat. The E/O system is incredibly useful and is pretty much a standard fit on all military helicopters. It's pretty much an enhanced AH.9 as is.

I think our posts must have collided mid-air; anyway mine was more of a question as to what the army has/could have in a mobile form Here you go... https://i.imgur.com/CRxzLof.jpg https://i.imgur.com/BFsluZz.jpg Can be mounted in a smaller platform as well. A long wheel based LR could handle it. As...

Another UK system is the AUDS. This was also used (rented or leased with contractor support) during the Gatwick drone incidents. This has also been used in combat by US forces in Iraq and Syria to combat the threat of ISIS drones (may have been used by UK and Iraqi forces as well). Mounted at FOBS, ...

ArmChairCivvy wrote:What's that?

It's also sold under the Textron brand. Basically its an LMM without the rocket motor..



It was mocked up on the Watchkeeper for the Polish competition. All UK kit.

As we've just ordered the first systems, seems like a good idea to create a topic.. 4 Leonardo Orcus systems ordered for trials with the RAF. These were the systems used to try and protect Gatwick in the drone disruption incidents in recent years. It's called the Orcus, but appears to be Leonardo's ...

On the offensive side we are getting there, but the fleet will be weighted towards the sizeable designs - of which (ANKA) Turkey has already lost 3-6. And we are talking about low intensity, with only occasional bursts of larger scale action - so either up the size of the fleet and diversify as for...

Maybe before we get to excited about afterburners and long range AAM the UK should get something like AW Hero in service with the RN and Army giving both services OTH eyes and ears up to 100 km for 6 hours and maybe just maybe Hero could be fitted with 2 x LMM or 4 free fall Fury I've always though...

Back to UK UAV's and Drones.. I've never seen this pic before, and to be honest I didn't appreciate how big Mantis was in comparison to Reaper. Honestly do think we made a mistake not going for it when there was cash available, when I think of where the UK UAV industry should be with the money spent...

SW1 wrote:There not yet being designed as an interceptor

Right now, but by the time one was developed it could be used for that. On a carrier one of the best uses for a UCAV would be operating as the CAP.

SW1 wrote:Concorde required reheat to get to supersonic flight.

Actually it didn't, but it saved fuel by using afterburner to get through the transonic regime quickly. It could go supersonic using dry thrust but it took more time and fuel to push through.

Why would you want a supersonic ucav. A non after burning engine optimised for range will be subsonic in nature and more suitable for unmanned missions. Afterburning has other uses beyond getting over the transonic hump. The ability to accelerate, climb rapidly or shorten a takeoff run is worth the...

It also has the big advantage over the Lift-Fan system of not needing to drag around the dead weight of the fan, during level flight, and all the hefty, strengthened panels needed to ensure airflow. The big disadvantage it has is that it needs a dedicated engine for that. And there is only the Pega...

Too expensive? Certainly the F135 and LiftSystem is very expensive, and could only be justified by a very high end UCAV. The market for that is very limited. You could argue that unless you're building one to pair it with an F-35B you may as well buy an F-35B... But utilisation of the same concept ...