Just a thought :roll: ,,,,,,,,,,,, Do you think the solid support ship will be that ambitious? It will undoubtably have an ambhibious support role, but to completely take over would be quite something. Certainly an interesting concept though. I dont think a coupple of mistral types would be unaffor...

I doubt the RAFs BAE 146s being used as routine in shader , maybe the odd vip transport in and out of the theatre of operations but other than that I just can't see the numbers being available , it's my understanding the RAF have 5 BAE 146s total in the Royal squadron ??? , one was used to transpor...

The Armchair Soldier wrote: Does anyone know why there's a BAE 146 picture on that page, by the way? Is it just a library picture or are they being used in support of Op Shader too?

10% of our total in one go!
I think they have updated the image to a more suitable one now!

Big questions remain MARs solid support ships will they be ordered and where will they be built (aircraft carrier alliance could bid), number of Type 26s, Batch 1 Rivers, man power, number of RN F35B squadrons. Ocean and Argus replacemens (? 2 new LPHs or LPDs or a modifield karl Doreman) On the to...

I would say at the moment for the RN/RAF priority is MPA and MARS SSS. Completely agree, too big things that need sorting in the very near term. I would say at the moment for the RN/RAF priority is MPA and MARS SSS. As far as F35 is concerned I think that will be a creeping programme which is sensi...

Yep we know there will be bad new in both reviews, but you have to take the bad with the good as there is only a finite pot of money. That is a big pot of money, and we can afford anything we want, but not everything , so there is always going to be some bad news. Lets just hope the good outweighs t...

Post paris news is throwing out some early disclosured on next weeks SDSR. So far security servies are set for a 15% increase and 100% increase to cyber security budgets, with a new 'National Cyber Centre'. It looks as though this is the start of a "cyber army" (horrible phrase, I know) , ...

Seems the Army is not getting anywhere near enough love in here. Personally I think the army should be fine. For me army 2020 is mostly a sound concept. I think they would benifit from some stability and funds to help fill the gaps in army 2020 and I am optimistic they may accheive some of that. I ...

It would be very sensible for both the UK and Australia to work together on this, especially as BAE is so well established in both country's national security. I can't read too much into the job losses though, it just should like they are using the papers to apply some political pressure to me. Ther...

I wouldn't call it a wish list, but I would consider the SDSR a success if we see - an MPA orded (preferably not a competition) - both carriers properly ran - tranche 1's retained - solid support ship orded Elsewhere I would like to see stability. Continuing with the plan, with some funding to fill ...

T26 numbers will be meaningless. It will be up 4 different governments to see the project through and we know fickle they can be! The real indicator of how many we get will not be the arbitrary number this SDSR gives it, rather it will be the unit price which is the most important question mark left...

ArmChairCivvy wrote:I'd rather go for CR3, in this vein, and in conjunction with Krauss Maffei, now merged with Nexter:

My issue with this option is that in 15 years time, we will have 200 units of unique equipment, that we cant afford to support again.

arfah wrote: U.K. replenishes Hellfire missiles from U.S.Army stocks.

Iraq must be taking it toll on our stock levels!

Jeeeezzzzzz no one said this was going to happen tomorrow or that these tranche 1 squadrons were going to be extra . Keeping The use of tranche 1 aircraft was only the simple/cheapest option to help fill the gap in fast get numbers due to the planned retirement of both the tranche 1 typhoons and to...

Might be the real deal this time, perhaps 40 year old jets are something they can afford and we can't veto.

downsizer wrote: There isn't manpower available for extra Sqns at present. The Air Force is haemorrhaging people. But since you know better perhaps you could tell us where these pools of manpower are?

I am not suggesting an increase. I am suggesting stability and keeping useful asset's.

Eurofighter Typhoon to Get MBDA Marte-ER Anti-Ship Missile Capability While attending the 2015 Dubai Air Show, Navy Recognition learned that the Eurofighter is set to get an ASuW (anti-surface warfare) capability with MBDA's Marte-ER. The information was revelaed by Programme’s Capability Manager, ...

Tinman wrote: Really? So wheres the manning going to come from for the extra Sqns?

Again, already there. Just need to reverse the decision to axe those resources.
The RAF could certainly benefit from some stability, and a nice smooth steady transition over to F35.

Tinman wrote: Pilots? Techies? Weapons? Spares? Basing?

Already there.

What would it take for these aircraft to be used as just an interceptor role e.g. assisting lost Russian aircraft in a timely manner ,and have them stationed for that purpose . Nothing, that's what they are designed to do, and they are perfect for it. Perhaps an AMRAAM extension, but nothing new. T...

I really don't see It as a step back , nor is it an ideal situation , it's about using what we have available , these aircraft have been paid for so either we use them or loose them that's the choice , So If enough tranche 1 can form 1-2 UK based AD squadrons releasing tranche 2-3 aircraft for othe...

Radical third option in all this?? Take the pain of a gap until we can bring online a larger than originally/presently intended number of Lightnings. We avoid fumbling around with confused fleets within fleets and paying for stop gap measures and actually end up with a solution that will be far mor...

Does anyone know what possible new submarine capability Alex Ashbourne-Walmsley is hinting at in the above article? She does have very credible links to the decision-making process so maybe she knows something important. It would be great if we started looking seriously at AIP submarines, for insta...

My feeling is that if the squadrons are kept until then, it'll be easier to try and get the Treasury to allow further F-35s purchases. If the number of squadrons really drops to 6 right away, it'll be much harder to ever rebuild from that number. Exactly! something is needed in the interim before w...

Again fleets within fleets, what happens when AMRAAM is no longer available? Or do you suggest another "small" investment in a weapon that only has one user? Meteor will be used on Typhoon and F35b. I don't think the fleet within a fleet is too bad, they are almost exactly the same and th...