UK Defence Forum

SDL wrote:Definitely looks like a timed thing with the Tory conference.

Did we really expect them not to hijack the occasion and play it as a political achievement so they can push the “party of defence” line? Michael Fallon would have loved this, it would have been an occasion for him to rollout his favourite “growing Royal Navy” soundbite

SDL wrote:Definitely looks like a timed thing with the Tory conference.

By all accounts it was timed for the 10 o clock news tonight. Which is understandable as that will reach the most people.

If they were waiting for the conference, then the recent hurricane must have been a spin doctors wet dream...

Timmymagic wrote:By all accounts it was timed for the 10 o clock news tonight. Which is understandable as that will reach the most people.

Are the MoD aware of the existence of pubs and Friday nights?!

SKB wrote:Are the MoD aware of the existence of pubs and Friday nights?!

Pubs yes.

But they all knock off, including main building, at midday on a Friday...

A great week and not so great week for the F-35.

First combat missions
QE operations

And..

First crash. USMC F-35B. Pilot has ejected and is being evaluated for injuries.

Not that this makes it any better, but it hopefully shouldn't conflict with the QE trials.

That sounds like there won't be a grounding? if they know it's not related to the trials, then they know what caused the crash today?

Think that purely means the a/c wasn’t involved in the trails. Far to early to determine anything.

SW1 wrote:Think that purely means the a/c wasn’t involved in the trails. Far to early to determine anything.

That makes more logical sense....

Hope the pilot is OK, and this does not turn out to be STOVL hardware related, but it wouldn't surprise me.

Just seen a tweet from the County Sherriffs Office staying that the pilot is well but being checked over for any unseen injuries so that’s the main thing.

Although the flight looks to be unrelated to the trials work, would it not be surprising if the all B variants are grounded pending investigation seeing as this is the first crash?

I know it’s not the most important thing and the pilot certainly won’t feel the same, but it’s quite amazing that throughout nearly two decades of development this is the first airframe write off in a crash..

It depends why it crashed.

It’s not the first write off in a crash that was the f35a at Elgin when the engine blew. You don’t ever “boost” about how safe an aircraft is the law of sod will always intervene. You just hope things continue well

MCAS Beaufort reporting the pilot ejected safely

SW1 wrote:It’s not the first write off in a crash that was the f35a at Elgin when the engine blew.

Indeed, I meant in the context that the pilot ejected while airborne

Repulse wrote:

R686 wrote:In all fairness it would most likely be cheaper to build another commercial spec Ocean with fast jet capability than increase the size of QE

Though the crane is still available, why not just divert cash from supporting penny packet token Army formations in mainland Europe and buy / man a third

QECV? Umm no

While I’m all in favour of the rule of threes, under the current budgetary constraints two fleet carriers is enough, time to rebuild the expeditionary assault capability if that happens to have a F35B capability bonus. The QECV are never going to replicate Oceans capability.

For the sake of the budget I’d really be looking at 3 of these,

https://www.baesystems.com/en/download- ... 568205.pdf

Teaser..

Further to the above post from R686, I do think that 3 x vessels will be required ......... Although I also think that the size will probably be increased by around 50% to circa. 35,000 Tonnes.

Congrats on scoop of the year!!!!!!

Ron5 wrote:Congrats on scoop of the year!!!!!!

Cheers. They're all over the (geek) internet, I've no idea why the MoD is still operating its media embargo like we're in the analogue age.

That's a Big Plane that QE has made look VERY small. Almost enough room for them to land on Port side while others are taking off?

That tail fin logo on BF-04 exactly matches the embroided patch I shared a few pages back.
This one:

Here it is in a wider shot: