Not seen this before - Stingray for Poseidon https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/raf-chooses-uk-manufactured-sting-ray-torpedo-for-poseidon-fleet/ The interesting thing will be if a wing kit is developed for it.... Sounds like a good idea, we really do need another 3 Poseidon to make a viable flee...

Interesting post from Gabriel, is this a sign that the AW149 has won NMH (as we all expected it probably would) or if something else wins, is it a sign that the MoD is going to add yet another type to the inventory instead of using some joined-up thinking (and we all probably expect this too :lol: ...

I think it's time to start looking at the delivery times of F-35 vs tempest. Tempest with deliveries starting 2035, how quickly will our F-35B Batch 2 order arrive? Is the +27 jets worth it? Used as delay overlap? Batch 3? Larger Batch 2? All important questions. I don't put this against tempest, j...

The Royal Navy does not need 24 escorts to generate a carrier group and an amphibious group. Nor does the Royal Navy currently require a carrier group and an amphibious group. I assume you’re using the 3 to 1 ratio to get to these numbers but that is the historical number for sustained long range t...

As said Bulwark will come back on line and work up and then QE will go in for first major dry dock refit and POW will take over the strike carrier role I think there is a big question mark over the future of Bulwark and Albion. Both I think are potentially tempting low hanging fruit for the next Go...

shark bait wrote: ↑24 Nov 2023, 13:21 I didn't know BAE has increased the beam for the Australians. Turns out is not jut the UK MOD that buys standard stuff and the buggers with it!

Seems like a bad idea, keep the propulsion and hull form the same, start buggering with altering the dimensions and it starts to unravel....

a NATO awac that is due to enter service in 2031 financed mainly by the US will come of a uk modification line, someone’s been on the sherry early. "someone’s been on the sherry early" How do you know I drink the cooking sherry while working in my Kitchen, is that you in the ice-cream van...

The first RAF Wedgetail could be flying next year .... https://twitter.com/Gabriel64869839/status/1724744015122219443?s=20 Common sense would absolutely dictate that the orders are simply added to the already up and running UK assembly line. A production facility with trained personnel with a wealt...

Aw609 fuselage is not sized to be of any use as a military platform. You might as well start from scratch. Depends on the role and requirement. I'm not suggesting it's a Merlin HC4 replacement. This is a platform that's been developed almost fully, for the civil role. Why reinvent the wheel if ther...

It doesn't actually exist in the real world, so it's at least 15 years away from potential UK purchase, 20 would be more likely. Not far off the timeframe of the Bell HSTOVL family, should the DARPA chose to go beyond their Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SpRInT) programme. The smallest ...

I believe Boxer already has a version with a 30mm stabilised turret in production?? Well Lithuanian Boxers are equipped with Rafael's remote Samson Mk II turret, Germany is planing to use same remote turret as one mounted on Puma IFV, Australians are using manned Lance turret on their CRV version. ...

What about this: https://aei-systems.com/venom_lr_30mm_gun/ The Venom is probably better suited to light vehicles, as a drop-in replacment for 12.7mm, where more firepower is needed For heavier vehicles, I think full-fat 30 x 173 would be more desirable (and could also be mounted in a RWS) My perso...

This is why Iv often mentioned on here about the V-247 being perfect for us just look at the current options it gives let alone what will progress. V-247 does look as a nice solution for QE class, it shout also be able to operate from probably any other ship with big enough helipad in the RN and co...

SKB wrote: ↑19 Nov 2023, 16:30 Please stop requoting requotes. You typed three lines, yet your post produced a further 22 lines that take up website memory and page space.

You won't catch me re-quoting posts, outrageous behaviour.....

This is why Iv often mentioned on here about the V-247 being perfect for us just look at the current options it gives let alone what will progress. V-247 does look as a nice solution for QE class, it shout also be able to operate from probably any other ship with big enough helipad in the RN and co...

bobp wrote: ↑19 Nov 2023, 03:50 A few titbits from the Daily Mail online.....

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... preys.html

Unfortunately Bob, you lost me at Daily Mail...

For that matter Daily anything, newspapers are only good for weekend rattle can car paintwork....

Probably an unpopular opinion; cats and traps is an unhelpful distraction from developing the carriers I do agree, I would love to have two cats and traps carriers but we have been through the mill with these carriers, with defects, possibility of only getting one and other scares, now that we have...

That makes no sense. If you don't know, just say so. Oh lighten up..... The point being, the RAF has many thousands of personnel, of course they could fly and mainly 5 aircraft, they obviously wouldn't because probably only 3 would be operational at any one time, with a back up and one in the maint...

I'm not sure what the serviceability of them are yet, however if we want 5 then we need enough people to support 5. There's more to it than just flight crew numbers, without everyone else they're just paper weights. That really shouldn't be a problem, these are lots of overweight, shiney arse pen p...

Equipment is pointless if you can afford to support or sustain it, it just becomes and expensive boondoggle. So, during the last Cold War 1945- 1990, UK was able to have defence spending on average 5-6 percent of the GDP- and surprise, surprise- it didn't bankrupt itself. And today, in the middle o...

Neich capabilities are always tempting low hanging fruit for government defence cuts... I guess you mean niche capabilities? They may be niche in terms of current capabilities, but invaluable I'd argue to maintain memory and experience of how to use that particular type of capability, ie to retain ...

Neich capabilities are always tempting low hanging fruit for government defence cuts... I guess you mean niche capabilities? They may be niche in terms of current capabilities, but invaluable I'd argue to maintain memory and experience of how to use that particular type of capability, ie to retain ...

Somebody has open up a good argument for a debate on the totality of the entire program ???? Everyone opinions are welcomed !!!! https://x.com/nicholadrummond/status/1725209961297310002?s=20 I guess KNDS know what is the best for the British Army and UK. And they are only saying that from the goodn...

I wasn't blaming the Americans, just that keeping up with them isn't cheap. Understood, but first tier equipment is absolutely what the RAF should have.... A core aircraft fleet of Poseidon, E7 and Rivet Joint is expensive, but they are at the core of the RAF and each fleet should be available in t...

SW1 wrote: ↑16 Nov 2023, 18:45 Equipment is pointless if you can afford to support or sustain it, it just becomes and expensive boondoggle.

We can support and sustain it, we simply chose not to in the past 2005-2015, during the endless Afghan intervention and the course was set in stone with the damage done.