SW1 wrote: ↑11 Sep 2023, 13:07 https://x.com/baesystemsair/status/1701 ... SrZTkNlgBA

That’s the business case made for GCAP then.

Great stuff again from NavyLookout https://www.navylookout.com/2023-carrier-strike-group-deployment-begins/ It’s a pretty modest CSG with 8x F35, 5x Merlin and 3x Wildcat AH1 a couple of escorts, a single Tide and no SSS. Looks like CSG25 will finally be the scale that everyone is waiting for. IMO t...

RichardIC wrote: ↑11 Sep 2023, 09:20 You want to renationalise them?

No.

It is not the job of the MOD to keep specific institutions employed. While the MOD should aim to keep a strong productive domestic industry, it should not be by directly managing suppliers, but rather a consistent commitment to buy British kit. The budget is for RN, not for the shipyard. Most of th...

Pretty strongly worded but if these reports change nothing then is there really any point in publishing it apart from stating the obvious?

https://committees.parliament.uk/public ... 0/default/

if they did sell 1 LPD ( which may help short budget ) hopefully not both Albion & Bulwark !!! then order 6 MRSS they could "spin" it as an increase in numbers.... Can’t see politically they could spin it - both will be held in reserve, slowly decaying and then quietly scrapped in abo...

Ok chaps how much do you think 8 are worth as for who maybe the Philippines as they paid 100 million for 2 they might think buying another 8 for 300 million a good thing IMO they are all needed but in their current configuration they just seem pointless. If the UK military is to really get more let...

Moved across. One thing is for sure if the Navy is down to three amphibious ships plus Argus, then there is zero chance of getting all six MRSSs. Too early to say but perhaps the Waves are included in the six if solid stores and liquid replenishment is included in some of the hulls. If RN really is ...

sol wrote: ↑09 Sep 2023, 18:19 Highly unlikely new one will be transferred. Two out of three UK armoured regiments are seriously under strength due lack of operational tanks.

As the Abrams start to arrive surely the need to send more CH2 is drastically reduced?

Timmymagic wrote: ↑09 Sep 2023, 16:55 …the trials which appear to have gone off without a hitch.

Lets hope the Mojave trails do the same.

donald_of_tokyo wrote: ↑09 Sep 2023, 09:09 One thing to note is, T31's 40mm gun is replacing the 30mm guns on T23/45/26s. So, it is the main weapon for "every day use". In other words, cheapness of ammo is more important.

Exactly so this should ensure the likelihood of sovereign ammo production should increase greatly.

Tempest414 wrote: ↑09 Sep 2023, 14:01 LRV is based on a new Land Rover Discovery…

It can’t be a new Discovery?

They are all monocoque now.

Is it the Discovery 4 chassis? It was the last of the Landrover ladder chassis AFAIK?.

Tempest414 wrote: ↑09 Sep 2023, 13:26 I guess we will see this week when Babcock lets us see it

Based on the Toyota Landcruiser 70 and assembled in the U.K.

Could be a solid option.

well with 1000 soon to be in service we need to just get on and order 500 more plus say 600 LRV 400/600's to allow 3 x Light Brigades The modularity increases the air mobility. Perfect for the rapid reaction force including all the variants GMLRS, 105mm, 120mm mortar, Brimstone etc. Why procrastina...

mrclark303 wrote: ↑09 Sep 2023, 10:03

Apologies for repeating your points. We must have been typing at the same time.

So how does this change work then? You scrap wildcat in the army great. Do u think all the army people are gonna go across to commando helicopters and hey presto the commando helicopter force is going to suddenly increase? Of course not the expanded NMH programme which should replace Wildcat in the...

SW1 wrote: ↑08 Sep 2023, 19:59 We seem to have becoming overexcited PR about rather trivial steps these days.

When Mojave is shown to safely operate from the CVFs it will be far from trivial it will be revolutionary.

Repulse wrote: ↑08 Sep 2023, 15:35 A third flat-top would come in handy wouldn’t it.

Not as useful as 3x LHDs and a handful of escorts for the same price.

Maybe maybe not. Still doesn’t mean the navy has crew to use them. What use would small unarmed battlefield helicopters have in Ukraine? Virtually none. Why continue to operate a capability that is of dubious value when funds are so stretched? There is no logical reason. There is also absolutely no...

How good are ciws if they they don’t have any ammunition to fire? The likelihood of not being able to source 57mm/40mm Bofors ammo is vanishingly small due to its widespread use in NATO. It does raise a valid point however about the increasingly large RN inventory of calibres. The logistical challe...

If the navy has 60 wildcats most would be sat in the hanger with nobody to fly them. How long is it going to be before they become so obsolescent in the Army role that they end up sat in a hanger anyway? Cheap and easily replaceable drones will be designating targets for the Artillery and Apache go...

If we buy a different gun that’s fine but the expendables for that gun need to be manufactured in the uk. That’s what’s important. It is important but it’s more important that it actually works in extreme marine environments. CT40 has had issues with reduced barrel life since inception. Acting as a...

One of the supposed benefits of the cta ammo is you need to use less round to do the same thing as legacy ammo. If you’re looking at ammo ammo ammo, or in reality logistics logistics logistics then that has benefits. Sovereign manufacturing and logistics are important but there are many other facto...

Agreed. They could also be used by the LRG. Does Sea Venom have a land attack mode? I'm a bit sceptical about sending AH64s to sea for an extended period, a bombed up Wildcat could be a potent little "good enough" substitute. Absolutely the Sea Venom has a land attack capability. The Warh...

The Navy should be aiming to scale up these fixed wing demonstrators to carry ISTAR payloads, and eventually replace crows nest. For cargo deliveries VTOL seems like the better option, something that can be used across any ship in the fleet. Agreed but a CVF launched/recovered Sea Guardian type cap...