Happy New Year all. may we all be blessed with a positive outlook for defence expenditure and good health amongst our families and friends.

ArmChairCivvy wrote:how can it take 4 years for an existing vehicle to get to deliveries?

Setting up a UK production facility including any tooling, and relevant training perhaps.

mr.fred wrote: Hull structure stays

As i understand it some Hulls have issues with the aluminium, and these are not repairable. Only a small quantity though.

Ron5 wrote:More pictures from Tim Fish in Chile. Can't spot any differences from previous pics of previous exhibitions.

Is this the export version of the T31. I see it has been designated T31e.

The powers that be need to move fast to replace Harpoon. Guess any replacement is down to hard cash as well as desire to spend it. Can France be trusted to deliver without ripping us off in the process.

Awesome watching that video. Hope they get the Guinness record.

No doubt they will paint it as part of the planned upgrades. Maybe use a small barge alongside or a cherry picker from dockside. Does seem to be a problem with the paint as a similar thing on a larger scale happened whilst she was being outfitted up in Rosyth.

ArmChairCivvy wrote: DE&S is that there are actually three different models of Captor-E

I understand one of the versions has built in Electronic Warfare modes, possibly the version the RAF is seeking.

I was led to believe that some new radios will be fitted as well. Not sure if this is a update to existing units or additional ones.

Nice photos seems like the paint is peeling off the bow, looking at the picture of the F35 taking off the ski jump.

Not UK-centric but it deserves sharing: Interesting it reminds me of the first night of the Gulf war when 100 F111 lined up to take off from Taif airbase in Saudi, all fully loaded and on afterburner to take off. Very impressive and noisy. My dear wife working in the Hospital directly under the fli...

I think its pretty certain the RAF would like the last 90 F35 to be the A variant. Problem is having just 48 B versions is simply not enough to equip one carrier with three squadrons in the event of a conflict and allow some for OCU and maintenance.

Of course the Air Commodore may have been expressing his own ideas (prejudices) and that his statement was not official policy. Bur then the article was published in Janes so who knows. But for certain infighting between the services is evident.

It appears that the infighting between the RAF and the Navy is still apparent regarding the future orders of F35B.

https://www.janes.com/article/84593/uk- ... -off-strip


If true 24 airframes on board QE will be a BIG ask indeed.

Perhaps 12 or more for NATO exercises, otherwise 6 to 9 for training ops.

PCU means Pre Comissioning Unit due to the fact she is on Trials.

SDL wrote:idiots and criminals

I voted leave and don't regret it, for the simple reason I would like to see our country run by Parliament. Does that make me an idiot or a criminal?

These birds were due to be delivered anyway, so this is just MOD bullshit to grab some headlines.

ArmChairCivvy wrote:- the door would seem much smaller than the opening?

Doors not fully open, the lifts can accommodate two F35B. I also read the hangar could take a Osprey.I believe the hangar height at the aft end is elevated for such a purpose. But have seen no images or graphics to back up that fact.

xav wrote:Likelihood of RN (and RAN and RCN) getting this (Vulcano) for their Type 26 ? They were the "launch customer" for that automated handling system after all ...

Hope they can afford some, money is a problem.

SKB wrote:Port: Three PTB bays and a smaller bay for rhibs.Starboard: One smaller bay for rhibs.

Correct but there is also a facility to launch RIB's from the stern and lower them to the water.

xav wrote:Sorry for some of the accents.

No problem with your accent. Please continue with your news you are doing a fantastic job.

I can see the need for replacing early models that are probably clapped out due to operations and age. But not understanding why they have chosen the most expensive version and by the looks of it kitted out for SF use. I thought we were skint?

Are these the MH-47G versions of the Chinook, with the air to air refuelling and ability to carry internal tanks as well as the large belly tanks.

Judging by the number of guns being ordered I strongly suspect these are SF variants. Two machine guns and two miniguns per Helicopter as well as the long range tanks.