UK Defence Forum

Caribbean wrote:Who mentioned electromagnetic launch or EMALS? I didn't - I was thinking of the smaller mechanical rigs that seem to feature quite frequently alongside a lot of current drones! But your comment reminds me - wasn't there a lightweight electromagnetic system developed some years ago that might fit this niche? I seem to remember reading about it on one of these pages (or possibly TD)

It was mentioned by Captain Kyd in one of the videos. The system you're thinking of was EMCAT IIRC. The development rigs did loads of runs, all sub scale I believe.

Those Twitter dusk shots are great, and unless it's a trick of the camera shows how big the Merlin is compared to the F35B's.

Onto the forward lift for the first time?
Meaning they went down into the hangar on the aft lift earlier. As you see, they are not at flightdeck level, they're at hangar level. Notice the tyre marks, they've been pushed on backwards from inside the hangar.

I am told that the Phalanx Guns will be fitted when the QE returns from her present tour. Also the same source said that a new Communications suite will be fitted.

bobp wrote:I am told that the Phalanx Guns will be fitted when the QE returns from her present tour. Also the same source said that a new Communications suite will be fitted.

It was reported in Defense News - see end of article.

https://www.defensenews.com/breaking-ne ... -aviation/

quoted from: https://www.defensenews.com/breaking-ne ... -aviation/ (in case link goes dead)

When it returns to Britain, the ship will get the Phalanx close-in weapons system installed, in addition to a new communications suite. Then it’s back to the United States for more testing.

A trip back to Rosyth perhaps? Or to be done in Portsmouth?

Jeremy Kyd:

"“We will come back (to the US) next September (2019) for operational testing,” Kyd said. “We’ll bring seven jets over and we’re going to start the operationalizing of the ship – learn how to fight the ship and the aircraft together, prove all those comms systems and prove all the gen-five elements.”

Stupid question - any reason why 7? Appreciate this may be the maximum they can do, but just seems an odd number.

Maybe to allow room for additional US Marine F-35B's to share the fun? And see if this new comms gear works between US and UK jets and ships?

bobp wrote:I am told that the Phalanx Guns will be fitted when the QE returns from her present tour. Also the same source said that a new Communications suite will be fitted.

The Phalanx makes sense. But new communication suite? Is this in addition to the current system, a replacement or was it something that wasn't ready when she was in build?

Repulse wrote:Stupid question - any reason why 7? Appreciate this may be the maximum they can do, but just seems an odd number.

Just spitballing, but 2 flights and 1 spare/ground-test aircraft?

Just bloody typical that I was dragged off kicking and screaming on a family holiday when all this was going on. So thanks to everybody for all the pictures and videos. Curiously, not much coverage on Spanish tv.

Brilliant shot

PhillyJ wrote:Those Twitter dusk shots are great, and unless it's a trick of the camera shows how big the Merlin is compared to the F35B's.

Imagine how small a SHAR would look on that deck... A pilot would spend half the day trying to remember were he/she had parked

A video of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH's replenishment-at-sea with USNS SUPPLY:

So why didn't RFA Tiderace go over with QE and Monmouth to do this job?
Marine Traffic shows she's still in Devonport!

Great article about the early design history for the QE class on Navy Lookout:
https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/develo ... n-history/

SKB wrote:So why didn't RFA Tiderace go over with QE and Monmouth?

I was just thinking the same thing

SKB wrote:So why didn't RFA Tiderace go over with QE and Monmouth to do this job?

She failed FOST it seems.

Nice twist of fate



Also an indicator of how well the trials are going

Night operations onboard HMS QE.

That is a seriously cool photo

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lockheedmartin/

Few more of these type of shots on the Lockheed Martin Flickr... I want the video though!

SKB wrote:So why didn't RFA Tiderace go over with QE and Monmouth to do this job?

Probably not required as QE is simply transiting without conducting OP's.
Fuel burn for the turbines and rotary wing aircraft only.

I know things are gloomy around here with the cuts and stuff, but c'mon guys. How many countries can say they have flown a fifth generation plane off a carrier? The answer is two.

France won't till 2040. China probably will around 2025. Russia good luck. India good luck. The F-35 is a top 2 bare minimum aircraft.


In elite company we are.

But just think about how many countries have landing craft that might get F-35 B's and just think of the interoperability. Australia wanted some for their ships, UK and Australia could do joint exercises. Japan for sure is getting F-35 B's. Think about that kinda publicity for a global Britain. Training Asian nation planes on the QE.


That's the kind of shit that having a carrier offers you. Especially two.

Also the seven years war basically KO'd France's chance of lingua franca. Secured English for all of history. That's crazy to think about.

Which P.L.A.N aircraft is considered carrier capable and fifth generation ?