The point I am trying to make is that if the pensions were sourced as per general revenue that most pensions e.g. old age disability then the two percent of gdp used as a benchmark for defence spending would have more for equipment . Many having served in the military will not spend their entire wo...

Would any of the members here be able to explain how military pensions are sourced from the U.K budget , why are the military pensions sourced as a part of defence expenditure is this the case for all retired ex public servants that their pensions are sourced from what ever body they worked under e...

That is a totally backwards approach. Let the civvies deal with the simple stuff like counting fish, and let the MOD focus the very expensive skilled military people on the complex tasks like submarine operations, or fast jets at sea. Have to prioritise. The value of something does not always equal...

I do get the point being discussed, but I can't think when we have deployed more than 12 jets anywhere in peacetime, ! That's one of reasons why even a small carrier is good enough. You missed off 'in Peacetime'...... As with most military kit, it is bought for operations, 'good enough' is not cons...

And relying on us for fixed wing heavy lift to the Sahel, Caribbean etc. Any UK C17 into Western Africa is still lugging French kit about. Yes, but that's not a gap/cut, because they never had that capabilities anyway. But yes, I agree that's one of their mistakes, not buying Globemaster. So its a ...

Last year US Marines (most vocal proponents of the F-35 programme) Lt. Gen. Gary Thomas, testified before the Congress that the F-35B, which reached initial operational capability in 2015, won’t hit full operational capability until 2031. No explanation given as to why the very long delay to reach ...

abc123 wrote: But, the important thing is: I can't recall that they had ever gapped/cut entire capability, except maybe heavy helicopters after Frelon was retired.

And relying on us for fixed wing heavy lift to the Sahel, Caribbean etc. Any UK C17 into Western Africa is still lugging French kit about.

I'm sure that £200m was quoted somewhere for the 3% forecast, so a one off cost of near that this year but with only 2% being consolidated it will drop off next year. Interesting tactic, most of the lads to take a one off payment near Christmas in a heartbeat! Pay is Resource funding not Capital, so...

[/quote] To me that reads as an effect that should be achieved everywhere, and as such it needs to be offensive, because an offensive air combat platform can conduct air policing, but it is not true the other way around.[/quote] The 'time and place' bit is important, it acknowledges that you can't p...

I think AI is going to have a much greater role. I can envisage a fighter with an "engage AI" button that gets hit when combat seem imminent and the AI takes over and fights the aircraft. Similarly, I think missiles will use AI to both aid in ID-ing the target and to enable the best maneu...

an interceptor also achieves air superiority over the territory it is to defend By definition air superiority is achieved over hostile territory, not defending friendly territory. That is simply not true, there are levels of the control of the air, which for some reason we keep changing the definit...

RAF Scampton is also the home to No1 Air Control Centre which provides mobile Radars and ATC for forward deployed UK forces. It comprises of 600 personnel plus families for those on married status. Will be sad to see this base go with its history and ties with RAF Waddington and Lincoln. The 600 pe...

I remember lots of very entrenched opinions on all sides asking if a modern civilian platform could ever be used as a MPA What? Nimrod was based on Comet for goodness sake. Do you consider the Comet a modern civilian platform? I was really worried once when told small cracks were found in a spar of...

I remember lots of very entrenched opinions on all sides asking if a modern civilian platform could ever be used as a MPA What? Nimrod was based on Comet for goodness sake. Do you consider the Comet a modern civilian platform? I was really worried once when told small cracks were found in a spar of...

I think the truth is likely in the middle. I remember lots of very entrenched opinions on all sides asking if a modern civilian platform could ever be used as a MPA and survive the rigours of the mission. Ironic considering what we will end up with but there you go. I was fairly (very) fresh faced w...

Didn't they send one to Syria (which would explain why the Swedes sent their "spy" plane to "record" the goings-on, to assess how the counter could be "countered")? Or " only" a Krasukha 2 or 4? as in " Russia deployed Krasukha systems to Syria in an eff...

A bit left field but dose anyone know the radar cross section of a barrage balloon Depends what it is made of. I would guess WW2 balloons were woven material impregnated with rubber. If so, the cross section would be tiny. On the other hand, the steel cable tethering it to the ground .... I wonder ...

A bit left field but dose anyone know the radar cross section of a barrage balloon Depends what it is made of. I would guess WW2 balloons were woven material impregnated with rubber. If so, the cross section would be tiny. On the other hand, the steel cable tethering it to the ground .... I wonder ...

Talking about doing it all on one "box" while networking in all those that have to rely on "old crap": " Multi-Link Service Gateway (MLSG) is a modular, scalable data link processor that provides standalone capability and an upgrade path to Link 16, Link 22 and Variable Mes...

its use of HF over SATCOM is the only reason for its use I can see. The only reason it was ever designed. Not really, it was designed to replace Link-11 and remove its vulnerabilities, hence starting life as NATO Improved Link Eleven. Its been a NATO job creation scheme for ages and much longer tha...

The links are more than protocols. Surely the F-35 issue can be more easily fixed by just installing MADL on the carriers & other RN ships? Are we sure they will not be? Aye, and both share a message standard, although use a different Stanag so there will be changes in implementation by now. Li...

F35 integration is through Link-16 and not CEC. MADL [and similar] were developed for a reason. Also, the quick transition from CEC to emerging "over-the-horizon" ship-launched cruise missile defense technology ... this nifca-ca thing had its drivers, as it does not come cheap. OTH essent...

Stop putting words into my mouth. That is so immature. Now go back to your regular job of misspending UK taxpayer money (oops, I guess I was immature too, shucks). Where am I being immature? What comment have I made that can be described as such? You stated that there is a definite anti Bae bias in...

So no anti-Bae sentiment in the MoD or Treasury? Sure. You folks are all just wonderful, won the Australian bid all by your little selves. The man doth protest too much. Really interested where I said that the MOD won the contract by themselves, care to point it out? So opening a competition in one...

Nonsense. The platform makes a great deal of difference which is why air forces spend umpty billions buying new aircraft every year. The US pits F-16s against F-15s & F-22s on a regular basis. Practicing against someone flying your own type of aircraft only goes so far and that's done within th...