Could the F35 carry an FCASW if it if such a size that the VLS model ends up filling a strike length MK41? Appreciate the VLS model will be smaller, and that it won’t fit internally, but we are talking about what is likely to be a very large weapon… It will be the same missile in VLS, Canister, air...

As always I can't help but feel that we should be ordering somewhere around 24 more Typhoons for the RAF... but can't see it happening. Even with further exports, the assembly line at Warton is going to be rather quiet by the late 2020s. Been saying this for an age...hopefully the Saudi's order the...

Had a look at Island Offshore's website. Can't see any sister ship to Island Crown owned by them. So it might be that we end up with a total mish mash of disparate ships. Hopefully if the concept is proved we just go and buy some off the shelf brand new and get some commonality (and potentially bett...

Brief video of a trial of a development version.

Excuse my ignorance, but why is that convenient for international partners? We don't all have mansized budgets to go and re-engine like the US does...plus a lot of international users have completed their purchases and will have them all delivered by the time any alternative engine would be develop...

You understand wrong. Currently vertical landing with a full weapons load (fuel would be dumped) isn't a problem. It might become one in the future with the heavier weapons in the pipeline but even then it would only be in the hottest of climates. With the expectation of engine thrust increases, th...

Posted about this before...surprisingly its gone further... https://twitter.com/ShephardNews/status/1635634484040159240?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet Interesting company... https://www.animal-dynamics.com/ Brief bits from the article...with some interesting bits Bolded... &qu...

sunstersun wrote: ↑13 Mar 2023, 17:40 Keeps the Pratt engine.

Convenient for all international partners.

It's good news for the UK, there was never any real prospect of a full re-engining programme, so development of the F-135 is the best option for us.

Magellan current owners of CVR7 had about 15 years ago produced a precision guided concept for CVR7 there was gps\laser and ir seeker options provided by Kongberg. CRV7-PG. Unfortunately it suffered from the same issues that all laser guided rockets had until APKWS came along. It didn't re-use all ...

Was there not also a mention of additional AW101s? I'm guessing this is for Algeria. They've got an existing fleet of newish ASW Super Lynx that might need supplementing, rather than replacing, for their rather lofty naval ambitions. I'm might be misremembering but I think I saw one of their final ...

Took a while...is this the Wildcat order mentioned in August?

Just the 3 helos...

Excellent rant. Dickheads that didn't order Brimstone for Apache need firing or pensions reduced. Probably sitting in the Treasury as we speak. You could add in the people at the AAC who are looking at APKWS... Nothing against APKWS, I've said before its one of the most elegant weapon engineering s...

Good bit of news...Blighter getting some love...

We were never going to win exports for brimstone in Apache. I disagree with this. There are multiple Apache E users who will also be using Brimstone (UK, Poland, Saudi Arabia and Qatar). Having a munition that could work across multiple platforms is a huge bonus. But crucially Brimstone 3 massively...

Is the UK ITAR-free? Well the UK is a country... The UK has specifically made all of its air weapons ITAR free in recent years, removing any US components, and all weapons developed in the future will be ITAR free...that should give you an idea of the UK's official position on the ITAR regulations...

Boeing didn't have anything to offer did they (maybe MH-139's, which are smaller than required)? So hardly a surprise. Would have thought AW would have had a no-compete clause with Boeing and the MH-139. Personally I think we should go with AW....but make Leonardo sweat buckets for it, and absolute...

Fresh news out of France it seems that the TIGER Mk3 program has gone sideways with it's air launch MMP LP missiles and MISTRAL III integration and is now a more of the shelf 2+ upgrade for the TIGER atack helicopter with the procurement of the MBDA BRIMSTONE missile for the helicopter. From the tw...

Looks like Italy will also be using FCASW...though it also notes that FCASW for launch from subs will come later than air and surface launch. The RN will be fine with its upgraded Tomahawk Block V, but might have to wait to -re-establish sub launched AShM capability. Be interesting what Italy choose...

Gtal wrote: ↑05 Mar 2023, 23:49 FCAS will be completely ITAR free and provide them operational independence.

GCAP is also going to be ITAR free...

Not sure. If killing USVs by shock is aimed, how powerful your depths charges will needed to be? "Shock tolerant" drones are technically feasible (because it is small and area exposed to shock is not large). If 500 kg of powder is needed, how can you deliver it? If we want to physically d...

HMNZS Canterbury is similar but not exactly the same. Actually I think the centre of gravity of Canterbury is is too high, which isn’t helped by the double deck cranes and landing craft. The RHIBs are two low to the waterline and the superstructure is about 2 decks too high. Canterbury has had stab...

3: "Hard kill" tactics against small drones and large drones will surely differ. Against large drones, there is a "sonobuoy-sized torpedo", Black Scorpion is one example. SeaGuadian UAV may be able to launch it. 127mm-diameter, 1.1m long, 11 kg total weight. "Top speed in e...

Yes, but let’s not over do it either. It again goes to the risk and threat assessment. Currently, there is only one region where this is a real threat and that’s around the Red Sea (Yemen) and Gulf (though still can’t see Iran actually doing it). Here we currently have a frigate and so it will cont...

Little J wrote: ↑01 Mar 2023, 22:42 NATO might get them to replace their E-3's too

If the USAF bail on E-3 as they seem to be planning the NATO fleet will have to make the jump as well. France and Saudi too. Suspect Chile might end up being the last user...they might have a decent supply of parts to run with.

Looks like MBDA and BAE are going to go for the Australian Guided Weapon business...makes sense.