Up to date cost of the Type 26 B2'sPte. James Frazer wrote: ↑27 Feb 2024, 18:34Rather what wouldn't it have.Repulse wrote:Don’t really want to discuss upgrading the T31, we’ve done that to death and it’s all speculation without funding.Pte. James Frazer wrote: ↑27 Feb 2024, 15:54]I actually don't disagree with your high end argument.
I'm arguing that you can turn T31 into a pretty strong local area AAW/ASuW frigate/escort (a damn site better than a T23 GP) and task group goalkeeper/potentially networked missile silo.
A silk purse from a sow's ear.
I also believe that high end MCM will require more than an 85m UxV mothership, whether commercial PSV derivative or bespoke 'City Class' style design because we don't have the 'mass' to escort those into harms way.
Hence why I think an A140 MNP style T32 self escorting UxV mothership meets your high end argument for MCM and able to be re-rolled to littoral multistatic ASW, RM raiding.....
Agree on MCM that the answer is not a single platform, rather than multiple platforms that have hybrid roles dependent on the specific requirement being fulfilled (and reflecting the threat level of that requirement). Whatever the answer however, the RN should not give up its position in the top tier of MCM.
What in your view would a T32 have that a T26 does not?
Not a 5", not a MT30, fancy gearbox, electric drive nor other gold plated T26 ASW noise abatement measures to pipework etc.
So would have features: Central mission bay certainly, stern ramp possibly, Mk41 VLS, 57mm & 40mm, hull mounted mine avoidance radar a requirement, deagaussing as required, main engine & generator rafting/active mounts/sound abatement enclosure etc. ideally. I'd be looking for that on a A140 MNP derivative at (stab) ~ £400-450m/unit cost.
With its mission bay T26 could certainly do the stand-off mission with ARCIMS, but should it at ~ £850m/unit? That's overkill to me. They're precious and need to be kept out of minefields for TAPS, High North/Atlantic, CSG.
T-26B2 contract 4.2 billion Nov 2022
MOD order for 5 Mk-45 MIFS 181 million Feb 2023
MOD order 2150 sonars 30 million June 2023
This makes the unit cost of a Type 26B2 882 million we need to wait and find out if the £100 million MOD order for CAMM was for all 8 ships or just the first 3 ships but if it was for all 8 it would make the unit cost of a Type 26B2 894 million