Why are we still pumping money into these open air death traps? You'd rather they still use Land Rover WMIKs? The troops I've spoken to love the Jackal. For its role in light warfare recce, intervention, and counter-insurgency, it's exceptionally capable and assuredly saved many lives while being a...

https://www.janes.com/article/94847/uk- ... on-in-mali

Jackals upgraded with Thermal Masts. That's a HUGE capability leap for their role, and one sorely overlooked for years.

RunningStrong wrote: Yeah, practically the same if you ignore all the ISTAR, survivability and C4I elements. Identical!

What survivability differences are there?

https://www.janes.com/article/94820/jap ... -programme

Japan is still on the table.

Hopes on them realising that hardship and choosing to build a line of 6-7 QE class to get an already made design then?

(Zero, but it's a nice fantasy dream)

Off topic but I assume you are Retro_Sicotte on Twitter? I must admit to having had to step away from a few recent tweets about the QE class, F35B's and how they are doomed to failure and a big mistake by the RN. I've seen you respond to some of the numpty comments though! :clap: Am indeed. I keep ...

Worth bearing in mind that news author has a notable trend regarding "Buy more little ones!" as his personal line that's turned up many times.

So while considerations are being taken, take articles by him with a pinch of salt as to what is actually being considered.

I think I was being a little too subtle with Mr RAF. I was challenging his unwritten assumption that the MoD budget issues should have to be solved by the Navy alone. Fair, but I think the issue is that there's simply nothing left TO cut. We already saw 2010 drop the forces to below safe minimum. S...

The Wiesels are on the way out, I doubt they'll specifically upgrade for them.

If the NAO report didn’t wake people up to how overspent the budget is nothing will. I’m amazed people still think the lpds survive that long if the two carrier do come on stream. At best both are mothballed. Would suspect the bays are being relieved from there presence duties to either be scrapped...

I understand NAO report simply says, "FLSS is dead". I think if you read it "straight forward", it will be the only answer? Albion replacement will be, I agree, in the 2040s. At least, unrelated to 2019-2029 decadal plan. Rather, (one of, or both of) Albion disbanding could be a...

Could a Chinook fit inside CDG hangar ? I have CDG as having a 6.1m hangar, which would be enough to squeeze in Chinook if you're careful and nothing's hanging too low from the ceiling. Not certain on that number, though. Problem is the elevators I feel. Not sure you could get a wokka on one proper...

Who says they have to be raised back to pre 2010 levels? As armed forces around the world become more professional, introduce more specialist and technology advanced equipment as they have have the world over tended to become smaller. With employment in the uk being very high there is not a large p...

Edit - Moved it over to a more fitting topic for this direction

It is a zero sum game when a budget is finite. We spend around $50billion on defence ever year that is plenty to defend the UK it’s considerably more than most. If that means we do less expeditionary then that’s what it means, if it means we don’t do things the same way as we used to do things then...

If you give them more money it will only be another sticking plaster and a bigger hole 5 years down the line it’s quite clear there are incapable of running a budget. Which would be why the rest of my post said to get people who can. The fact they’ve stuck there head in the sand screamed we need mo...

It's pretty obvious really. There's nothing left you CAN cut. We said this all back in 2010 that they were already cut to the bone, there was nothing left you could feasibly lose. The ONLY solution in this case short term is more money in the budget, and getting rid of whatever idiots can't keep to ...

Impressive looks, but compare the price to our T-31s, [according to defencenews] "The four corvettes and the support ship would cost 3.9 billion euros and the two missile boats one billion euros" I don't mean for us to use. I'm meaning having exports. France and Italy's shipbuilding is so...

https://www.edrmagazine.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Fincantieri-corvetta-Qatar.jpg Italy launching their first Corvette for Qatar. A mini-FREMM basically. A much more sensible way to keep shipyards going. Nail export orders for various classes rather than relying on huge ticket self orders alone....

It was fine for the intention. ie - A powerful ASW ship that had global deployment in mind for when it's not on ASW or carrier tasking. Then as ever, the Governments cut cut cut, and suddenly the 13 ships that would have seen a large class deployment able to have said ships rotating between all duti...

To be fair armchaircivvy I've always thought India would go with the French design over the uk for lots of reasons ,even more so they operate French carrier capable rafale design and could move onto the future rafale replacement design .it keeps India in the idea of cat and traps also instead of ra...

his is the reason I think RN must have focussed on T26 build, never think about 19 escort to invent T31. I know you are not saying so in this aspect, but for me, it is. :D Think Defence had a fantastic article that showed how the T45s almost halved in price toward boat six. Wish I could find it. Le...

While not disagreeing that the procurement is at best poor. Idont think you can critise the ship for having 'standard' spec like CODLOG and Mk45 gun. What would be better? The point is that many keep talking about it like a "gold plated" worldbeater thats taking the absolute apex of every...

] I think the 1- acoustic quieting 2- chinook capable flight deck (~30m long) 3- and mission bay are exactly the "gold-plating" people think. (Adding 24 Mk.41 VLS is kind of average as a 1st Tier escort these days). Its displacement is not all that huge (Remember RN states it's 6,900, ave...

The idea of the solution for the Royal Navy being to make entirely low end bargain basement ships with low capability is one I find entirely unfeasible. Type 26 is not "gold plated" at all. This mentality that its some sort of world stopping bleeding edge standard really needs to disappear...