Search found 1998 matches

by Gabriele
15 Jul 2015, 22:35
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Lockheed C-130 Hercules (RAF)
Replies: 179
Views: 97041
Italy

Re: C130J

I found online a document which shows that back in January the RAF sought modifications to the Medium Stressed Platform to make it compatible with the C-130J's floor and close the airdropping gap.
Did it go anywhere? The notice called for deliveries starting in June.
by Gabriele
13 Jul 2015, 11:28
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)
Replies: 6067
Views: 1724964
Italy

Re: F-35B Lightning II (RN & RAF)

Even assuming the "F-35 can't dogfight" crowd is right (and i've already explained why i think their lecture of the leaked report does not reflect what the report actually says), in front of their "the tactic to beat the F-35 is close the distance and force a dogfight" comment i ...
by Gabriele
12 Jul 2015, 19:14
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: Future UK Maritime Patrol Options
Replies: 1217
Views: 456952
Italy

Re: Future UK Maritime Patrol Options

I did the recovery of the data stingray dropped from the nimrod at a submarine.as part of the acceptance trials at Gibraltar The contractor technician recovering data from the torpedes warhead data replacement with a flotation ring was asked would the stingray compatible with the mk 44 &46 soft...
by Gabriele
12 Jul 2015, 19:12
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 45 Destroyer (Daring Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 1995
Views: 555300
Italy

Re: Type 45 Destroyer (Daring Class) (RN)

The Aster 30 Block 1 NT (New Technology) is not yet in development, and the UK does not seem to want to join, anyway. It seems to be a France - Italy try, if it progresses. Even if it goes ahead, its ABM capability is intended to be relatively limited, and useable against medium range ballistic thre...
by Gabriele
12 Jul 2015, 09:06
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 45 Destroyer (Daring Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 1995
Views: 555300
Italy

Re: Type 45 Destroyer (Daring Class) (RN)

I understood the Sampson is an developed version of the Dutch Smart radar and that the S1850M could be upgraded to Smart-l ewc giving an extended range SAMPSON is SAMPSON, the result of years of research and development in the UK. I don't think it has anything to do at all with the SMART. The S1850...
by Gabriele
11 Jul 2015, 22:52
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 45 Destroyer (Daring Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 1995
Views: 555300
Italy

Re: Type 45 Destroyer (Daring Class) (RN)

Has there been any mention that for the abm tests the Daring was tested for it had its radar upgraded to Smart-L EWC The radar doing the ballistic tracking was and is SAMPSON, in the Type 45's case. They've been working on exploiting its ABM potential for quite a while, and used the one at Cowes to...
by Gabriele
11 Jul 2015, 20:17
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: Future UK Maritime Patrol Options
Replies: 1217
Views: 456952
Italy

Re: Future UK Maritime Patrol Options

Not entirely clear to me, but wasn't there some talk that any UK P-8 buy would require that UK vetted kit would preferably be installed on the platform in place of whatever the US is running - AFAIK much of it hardware that was originally intended for the MRA4 whose mission suite was already allege...
by Gabriele
11 Jul 2015, 14:58
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: BAE Hawk (RAF & RN)
Replies: 149
Views: 70740
Italy

Re: BAE Hawk

possibly because the Hawk is nearing its sell by date the 346 is meant to be excellent and very modern. whereas BaE have sat back on their laurels a bit which is typical and such a shame. [...] Do note, the French are interested in the 345, not the 346. The Italians are an odd lot, their aircraft e...
by Gabriele
11 Jul 2015, 14:02
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: Future UK Maritime Patrol Options
Replies: 1217
Views: 456952
Italy

Re: Future UK Maritime Patrol Options

The only specials for P8Is relate to Harpoon (don't the US P8As use another missile?) and MAD (something to do with how they were/ are using the old Russian planes that the I's will replace, one for one). The USN Poseidon, for now at least, uses Harpoon as well. The indian changes include the MAD (...
by Gabriele
06 Jul 2015, 09:25
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Airbus A400M Atlas (RAF)
Replies: 392
Views: 155488
Italy

Re: Airbus A400M Atlas (RAF)

The third A400M lands at Brize: https://twitter.com/markbbentley/status/617809813720965120 It is, of course, the fourth overall. They say third because the future ZM401 is in Brize since early May, but still wearing an Airbus code as it is being used to integrate the DAS and hasn't been formally ac...
by Gabriele
02 Jul 2015, 21:41
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)
Replies: 6067
Views: 1724964
Italy

Re: F-35B Lightning II (RN & RAF)

Nice find Gabriele.... The GAU-22/A, a four-barrel version of the 25mm GAU-12/U Equalizer rotary cannon found on the Marine Corps’ AV-8B Harrier II jump set, is designed to be internally mounted on the Air Force’s F-35A version of the aircraft and hold 182 rounds. It’s slated to be externally mount...
by Gabriele
02 Jul 2015, 19:12
Forum: British Army
Topic: Ajax Armoured Vehicles (British Army)
Replies: 2432
Views: 526698
Italy

Re: Scout SV Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)

It does sound a bit on the ridiculous side: that is for 17.5 AI Companies, the establisment is eighteen. So you rob the first 14 test guns for the Batus (extra) Company, and the 11 left will help to fill up the missing half company, and a few spare still left (they did test a few to the death...). ...
by Gabriele
02 Jul 2015, 19:03
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)
Replies: 6067
Views: 1724964
Italy

Re: F-35B Lightning II (RN & RAF)

Reading the leaked report, it was specifically a trial flight to test operational-representative manoeuvers in high Angle of Attack. The F-35 remains controllable at quite damn high AoA (-10° to +50°, when the Typhoon has a max AoA of 25° and the Rafale 29°) and they tried to see if this can be expl...
by Gabriele
02 Jul 2015, 10:45
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15445
Views: 4410494
Italy

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

I posted this link back on the old mp.net QEC thread about deck coatings. http://www.marinelog.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=7611:monitor-coatings-to-supply-uk-carrier-flight-deck-coatings&Itemid=231 I should of noted that Thermion application used on U.S naval ships is a dif...
by Gabriele
02 Jul 2015, 10:41
Forum: British Army
Topic: Ajax Armoured Vehicles (British Army)
Replies: 2432
Views: 526698
Italy

Re: Scout SV Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)

No, wait, according to Jane's it is even worse. Only 245 guns are for Warrior. WCSP is just for 380 vehicles, 135 of which in support roles (artillery, REME).

25 guns are for trials and training, apparently.

And armoured infantry is supposed to be the core of Army 2020...
by Gabriele
02 Jul 2015, 09:07
Forum: British Army
Topic: Ajax Armoured Vehicles (British Army)
Replies: 2432
Views: 526698
Italy

Re: Scout SV Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)

The one annoying thing in the announcement is that with 245 guns bound for the Scout, there are only 270 left for the Warrior CSP. That works out at 45 vehicles per armoured infantry battalions, with no margin for reserve or training fleet. Whole fleet management all the way, and one or two battalio...
by Gabriele
01 Jul 2015, 11:24
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15445
Views: 4410494
Italy

Re: Thermion coating

I'm not sure if this has been discussed before ,but recent articles Ive read on the application of the thermion coating show a lot of work and ongoing maintenance , I've read that first aluminium is flame sprayed onto the surface ,the melting on of special epoxy plates covering with thin ceramic ,w...
by Gabriele
30 Jun 2015, 22:32
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Airbus A400M Atlas (RAF)
Replies: 392
Views: 155488
Italy

Re: Airbus A400M Atlas (RAF)

French SF are getting around it by getting a pair of KC-130's too IIRC. It is not sure yet. They have 14 old C-130H and the recent uplift to their budget includes a "study" on the opportunity of getting some 4 C-130J, two of which in tanker configuration. The actual decision is expected b...
by Gabriele
30 Jun 2015, 17:26
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Airbus A400M Atlas (RAF)
Replies: 392
Views: 155488
Italy

Re: Airbus A400M Atlas (RAF)

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 tha...
by Gabriele
28 Jun 2015, 09:56
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Panavia Tornado (RAF)
Replies: 201
Views: 112091
Italy

Re: Panavia Tornado (RAF)

So, as reported by Tony Osborne up at Aviationweek, the RAF is seeking a new Helmet Mounted Cueing System for the Tornado GR4 fleet, even though out of service date would come in 2, max 3 years after it becomes available. The new HMCS would be able to work with all the weaponry in use, ASRAAM includ...
by Gabriele
28 Jun 2015, 09:20
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Boeing RC-135W Airseeker/Rivet Joint (RAF)
Replies: 101
Views: 65273
Italy

Re: RC-135W Airseeker (ex 'Rivet Joint') (RAF)

As I understand it when Air to Air refuelling is required we need the assistance of our US allies. There is a specific agreement for cooperation with their 100 Air Refueling Wing, which is based in RAF Mildenhall. Unfortunately, they are due to transfer to Germany in the next few years. Like with C...
by Gabriele
26 Jun 2015, 21:08
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)
Replies: 6067
Views: 1724964
Italy

Re: F-35B Lightning II (RN & RAF)

The F-35B doesn't have reheat, just 'military power' which is full throttle. It's still supposed to have a lot of power available though. It does not have afterburner in Mode 4 (STOVL flight). It can't be engaged when in mode 4, not even by mistake as it is locked by software. It does definitely ha...
by Gabriele
23 Jun 2015, 19:10
Forum: British Army
Topic: Ajax Armoured Vehicles (British Army)
Replies: 2432
Views: 526698
Italy

Re: Scout SV Armoured Vehicle Variants (Army)

its big yet it can carry only 1 more trooper than a spartan! might as well have saved money and put warrior back in production! You can put as many seats as you want inside, but it is clear that, whatever the vehicle, more seats means less space per each soldier. If the soldiers carry more and more...
by Gabriele
21 Jun 2015, 22:55
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)
Replies: 6067
Views: 1724964
Italy

Re: F-35B Lightning II (RN & RAF)

Stealth was out of date by first gulf war Oh, sure. It is not like China and Russia and India are desperately trying to catch up, while pouring tons of money in trying to develop some form of counter, while claiming they can "see" western stealth. Sure seems to scare them. By the way, you...