I maintain however that we should have stuck with a 2 type fleet of C17s and Js. A400 doesn't really bring anything else to the party. Well I stand by my original comment from p2... I think the A400M, despite the development troubles (which all major programmes have), is looking to be a very succes...

Hi enjoy all the contributions here but tend to be a reader rather than a poster. I haven't seen any comment about how these are supposed to operate from the carriers? What about all the safety and other modifications required to operate at sea? I know this as Gabrielle has written excellent article...

DSEI 2015: Prince of Wales build currently running ahead of schedule, says Aircraft Carrier Alliance Great news the ACA have confirmed that HMS Prince of Wales is running about 4 months ahead of schedule. http://www.janes.com/article/54570/dsei-2015-prince-of-wales-build-currently-running-ahead-of-...

I am wondering since the older Seawolf 910 radar weighed 10 tons He knows that. He's speculating that the lack of requirement for a director frees up enough top weight to allow for a Phalanx fit. Be useful for defending against small boat attacks. Was hoping for some comments if not an answer! Sinc...

Sorry Arfah can you move it there?

The Future Soldier Vision (FSV) is part of the Ministry of Defence’s plan to ensure that British soldiers of the future have high quality equipment, utilizing the latest technologies. Today’s unveiling shows what a soldier could be wearing and using on the battlefield in the 2020s, based on current...

Despite all of the planned upgrades for the T23 I haven't heard of any suggestion to fit a Close-in-weapon-system (CIWS) which is the Phalanx CIWS. Is this a cost issue or a space limitation on the T23? It's neither, it's a structural limitation, probably topweight although this has not been confir...

Only 12 sets are being purchased. Guess they are leaving out of the upgrade the first ship due to be replaced by Type 26. Rolls Royce will supply exactly 48 MTU 12V 4000 M53B gensets, each capable of 1,650 kW. The oldest T23 is HMS Argyll 1991 and newest HMS St Albans 2002. If this is the first die...

Also, the 911 SeaWolf trackers on the deckheads of the bridge and hanger will be gone - more weight up-top for other upgrades, which the 23 struggles with currently. I believe that each of the Seawolf 911 radar sets weighs in at 5 tons each. Compared to Seawolf the new CAMM has longer range, higher...

Sky News will broadcast a programme tonight at 20.30 about the RAF with exclusive access to the QRA operations.

Well thanks to Cockney for the photos and SKB for the updated diagram. We may not have the aircraft just yet but it seems to me that the build of POW is flying along. I am reminded how quiet it is as far as reporting in the press - no bad news stories of delay or cost increases anymore - no news in ...

Quite a few eyebrow raising comments in that article :| 60 Bs for the Royal Navy and 40 As for the Royal Air Force I'll believe it when I see it. We are committed to the QE carriers which can only use the F35B. With 100 x F35 that would realistically only give you 4 Squadrons + an OCU, reserves &am...

Seeing the rapid progress on the POW build made me look back to a US GAO report from 2004 comparing the yet to be built F35 and the aircraft it would replace. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/gao/d04900.pdf From page 11 To determine the relative capabilities of each aircraft com...

They haven't even lifted the skeg off LB04 yet :D Maybe they'll forklift it off. ;) I was going to post a request for SKB to give us one of his super diagrams but you have already done it! Thank you. Been watching all the conversation that went with the QE build on mp.net which seemed to take forev...

August newsletter from the ACA is out now: http://www.aircraftcarrieralliance.co.uk/~/media/Files/A/Aircraft-Carrier-Alliance-V2/documents/programme-update/2015-weekly-comms/newsletter-august-2015.pdf Inside the magazine was this comment: The cumulative efforts of everyone saw an increase of produc...

Many of the ideas have potential but some are closer than you think. I know the T23 upgrades included new slippery paint - I believe silicone based which added 1 or 2 knots to ship speed. The T45 & QE class have the same treatment. In the article: -Ultra strong acrylic hull coated in graphene fo...

Reading through the RAF website I was surprised to learn about losses in the battles over France and Dunkirk prior to the Battle of Britain. ..the losses incurred during the fighting in France and over Dunkirk were heavy, amounting to nearly 400 Hurricanes and 67 Spitfires; 280 pilots were killed an...

...how would it go on top of the hanger, may I ask? I like the suggestion from WhitestEephant. The CAMM system as planned for the Type 26 has a silo of 24 missiles located aft. Since CAMM is a cold launched system, unlike Aster & Mk41, there are no hot gases produced and no exhaust vents requir...

The RAF website has posted a comprehensive report of all aspects of The Battle of Britain. These pages catalogue the official reports of the most important event in Royal Air Force history; the Battle fought over Britain between the 10th July and 31st October 1940. The complete Fighter Command Opera...

I was wondering how the Chinook fleet would be standardised with the 46 upgraded with Thales kit but the 14 new HC6 are fitted with Boeing kit.
Found this great article here:
http://www.aeroresource.co.uk/articles/ ... -upgrades/

So they will be the same but slightly different!

The US have never exported the special forces Chinook with the refueling probe. Not even to the UK. There is no Chinook in-flight refueling capability available, even in the case the A400M overcomes the turbulence issues which prevent it from tanking for helicopters. Airbus has admitted recently th...

The cost of the upgrade is estimated at £40million+. I wonder if she will be returned to active duty in the Med as we need all the ships we can get our hands on! Maybe station her in Gibraltar to replace the pathetic patrol boats we have there now. Although possibly one of the new OPV's could go the...

Just saw my first A400M in the flesh! Flying low overhead with undercarriage down heading towards Bournemouth Airport (don't know why?). Looked simply fabulous. :D I think the Atlas should be equipped to refuel the Chinook's and Merlin. As I said earlier seem sensible to me if 2 were stationed on th...

PoW assembly diagram updated. Saw the front piece of ramp in position on PoW's bow in that new diesel video above ^. Not quite sure how much ramp there is, but I've drawn enough to cover all of the UB01 block for now. ;) Also noticed there's a new section of catwalk along the starboard bow of PoW, ...

Puma is an IFV, not a recce vehicle; so it's not really a comparison. Regardless, the Puma is by all accounts an exceptionally high quality vehicle. Strong armour, an enormous engine for world leading mobility of a vehicle that size and a nifty unmanned turret mounting a solid 30mm cannon. It's no ...