Search found 129 matches

by Simon82
22 Apr 2018, 00:39
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Boeing P-8A Poseidon (MRA Mk.1) (RAF)
Replies: 1271
Views: 456476

Re: Boeing P-8A Poseidon (Future Maritime Patrol Aircraft) (RAF)

Yes, that decision to recycle old MR2 airframes really was a false economy. New build would have been much better, but at that point BAE would have to do a full redesign for modern construction materials and techniques. If you’re having to redesign a DeHavilland Comet why not design an all new aircr...
by Simon82
21 Apr 2018, 22:17
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Boeing P-8A Poseidon (MRA Mk.1) (RAF)
Replies: 1271
Views: 456476

Re: Boeing P-8A Poseidon (Future Maritime Patrol Aircraft) (RAF)

If the project had stayed at 20+ airframes it might have stood a chance. If they had been new-build airframes there may have even been export opportunities, although the market for expensive, high-end MRAs is a small and crowded one. I get the feeling every flaw that was encountered in testing with ...
by Simon82
21 Apr 2018, 21:43
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Boeing P-8A Poseidon (MRA Mk.1) (RAF)
Replies: 1271
Views: 456476

Re: Boeing P-8A Poseidon (Future Maritime Patrol Aircraft) (RAF)

I believe Nimrod MRA4 had an appreciably greater endurance, a greater weapons load (with UK weapons compatibility as standard) and more or less the same sensor fit when compared to the P-8. However, the decision maker who thought a globally unique fleet of only 9 aircraft, based on (extremely extens...
by Simon82
17 Apr 2018, 23:09
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15445
Views: 4410325

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

Apparently the Bedford Array will be first fitted and trialled on HMS Prince of Wales, before being retrofitted to HMS Queen Elizabeth at a later date.

http://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/hms-que ... fast-jets/
by Simon82
31 Mar 2018, 23:57
Forum: British Army
Topic: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)
Replies: 2802
Views: 715181

Re: British Army Future Wheeled APC

This link from Think Defence answers my question. The new Warrior turret will fit. https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed/data/mfc/photo/tradeshows/ausa/LM-Datasheet-009-v1-40mm-Turrets-08-2016-SMALL.pdf I doubt there will be any budget for it though as it rather treads on the toes of W...
by Simon82
29 Mar 2018, 21:19
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7058086

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

If in the admittedly extremely unlikely situation that further Type 26s were to be ordered would it be possible to spilt the build across more than one yard? Could BAE’s new partners at Cammell Laird for instance build a Type 26?
by Simon82
29 Mar 2018, 16:28
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1465168

Re: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]

Just to be picky, but wouldn’t the 5” gun of the Type 26s be the biggest gun in the Royal Navy since HMS Blake was decommissioned, along with her 6” guns, in 1979?
by Simon82
29 Mar 2018, 15:30
Forum: British Army
Topic: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)
Replies: 2802
Views: 715181

Re: British Army Future Wheeled APC

Can anyone tell me whether the Rheinmetall Lance turret fitted to the Australian Boxers has any commonality with the Rheinmetall Lance-derived turret used in the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme? If so does that give a potential path to easily fit the 40 mm CTA gun to the Boxer should it be ...
by Simon82
20 Mar 2018, 01:01
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7058086

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

I always thought of the Type 26s as a more direct replacement for the Type 22 frigates rather than the ‘cheap and cheerful’ Type 23s that followed them (all things are relative!). The last of the Type 22s, HMS Chatham, cost £175 million in 1985 according to the ever reliable Wikipedia, but just usin...
by Simon82
28 Feb 2018, 23:38
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7058086

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Vessel 1 is HMS Glasgow and vessel 3 is HMS Belfast, it is hull 2 that is as yet unnamed. I don’t know why they’ve chosen to name them in that order.
by Simon82
19 Feb 2018, 19:44
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)
Replies: 6067
Views: 1724833

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

The Pratt & Whitney F135 is already the sole engine for all three variants of the F-35. Development of the Rolls-Royce and General Electric alternative engine (the F136) was stopped in 2011 when the funding was withdrawn by the US government. Rolls-Royce do however manufacture the lift fan, roll...
by Simon82
18 Jan 2018, 19:44
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1465168

Re: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]

I have a feeling if the Americans built a run of 20 Type 26s, they could do it for a lot less per unit than the UK’s 8 or 6... or 3.
by Simon82
18 Jan 2018, 18:41
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: USA Armed Forces
Replies: 2089
Views: 108891

Re: USA Armed Forces

Did BAE decide not to submit the Type 26 design for the FFG(X) in the end? Admittedly it was looking a little too large and expensive to be in the running, but I’d have thought the ASW focus of the design and the combination of the Mk 41 VLS, 5” Mk 45 gun and Rolls-Royce Trent engine (all currently ...
by Simon82
12 Nov 2017, 22:43
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1465168

Re: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]

It would be nice to standardise on the CEA radar across the RN, RAN and possibly the RCN. It would share risks and costs across more units, thereby lowering the sticker price and making the Type 26 more attractive to Commonwealth partners as well as politicians in the exchequer at home. However, I’d...
by Simon82
12 Nov 2017, 21:26
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1465168

Re: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]

If we did ditch the CAMM silos forward in place of extra Mk 41 silos on the Type 26, as in the RAN design, we could still retain the dedicated CAMM silos aft of the gas turbine intakes/exhausts for close-in air defence.
by Simon82
11 Nov 2017, 19:19
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7058086

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Is it too late to switch the Royal Navy’s 8 Type 26 frigates to the CEA radar fit as proposed for the RAN variant and recycle the Type 23’s Artisan radars on the Type 31s instead?
by Simon82
11 Nov 2017, 18:41
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: AW101 Merlin Helicopter (RN)
Replies: 513
Views: 273172

Re: Merlin helicopters

Is that a radar in the bulge above the LOAM window?
by Simon82
30 Oct 2017, 01:41
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: New Zealand Defence Force
Replies: 619
Views: 38529

Re: New Zealand Defence Force

Well the RNZN are currently adapting the Mk. 41 VLS on their Anzac Class to fire Sea Ceptor (CAMM), so that is one thing that might actually go in favour of a Type 31e buy.
by Simon82
29 Oct 2017, 12:40
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: New Zealand Defence Force
Replies: 619
Views: 38529

Re: New Zealand Defence Force

I wonder if they’re hoping to piggyback on the Australian future frigate programme to save costs as they did with the Anzac Class? In that case it’ll be whichever out of Navantia, Fincantieri or BAE Systems that wins the Australian contract. Of course if they have cheaper tastes maybe it’ll be an ex...
by Simon82
17 Oct 2017, 12:42
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: AW101 Merlin Helicopter (RN)
Replies: 513
Views: 273172

Re: Merlin helicopters

I can easily appreciate that sweeping with a helicopter towed sled would be expensive and more subject to weather conditions compared to mine sweeping/hunting with surface vessels and ROVs. The question then surely is why do the USN and JMSDF persist with sweeping by helicopters when it is such an c...
by Simon82
17 Oct 2017, 00:01
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: AW101 Merlin Helicopter (RN)
Replies: 513
Views: 273172

Re: Merlin helicopters

I’ve always wondered why we’ve never gone down the path of mine sweeping by helicopter, especially since the Merlin is deemed suitable for such tasks by the JMSDF.
by Simon82
26 Sep 2017, 21:48
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1465168

Re: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]

Rambo wrote:
I would agree. but, isnt POW already affiliated to Liverpool?
HMS Defender is already affiliated to Glasgow and that didn't stop them.

Since HMS Defender is also affiliated with Exeter that shall be my guess :D
by Simon82
16 Sep 2017, 13:06
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2143148

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate [News Only]

Judging by Xavier's video from DSEI it would appear Stellar Systems also totally misjudged the Royal Navy's requirements for the Type 31 programme and mistakenly assumed the call would be for a 'full-fat' frigate.
by Simon82
09 Sep 2017, 16:40
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7058086

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Thanks. So basically the Type 31e won't be in the same league.

Not exactly a Leander Class for the 21st century then.
by Simon82
09 Sep 2017, 14:32
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7058086

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Could someone with a greater knowledge of such things than me tell me how the requirements laid out for the Type 31e, including crucially cost, compare to the specification of the French FTI light frigate? They seem to me to be natural competitors for the budget frigate sector of the naval market, a...