SD67 wrote: ↑26 Apr 2024, 12:17 Though given MBDA UK are flat out with CAMM family and Brimstone it wouldn't surprise me if Storm Shadow new build are mainly France.

While you would like the work to be in the UK, given current events a top up from the French line is not too bitter a pill to swallow.

https://twitter.com/Gabriel64869839/status/1783616370107654413 I thought the general consensus was we didn't have the capacity to build more. And even if we did, with future cruise round the corner could we possible speed up the introduction of that weapon? https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm58...

Isn't the recruitment a Capita problem? (I think thats the contractor name) we hear stories of people waiting year to be able to join but giving up as it takes that long.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/04/first-type-26-frigate-progresses-towards-completion/ The future HMS Glasgow – the first of eight Type 26 ASW frigates ordered by the UK Ministry of Defence – has now received both its bow mounted and towed array sonar systems, and is shortly to receive it...

Its the total lack of substance that really annoys me. Its not like they will wait till the 1st of April 2030 to increase the budget, this would happen over time. So if the budget is to increase by 12 billion over 6 years (for example) when does it start to appear? Will it be 2 billion starting this...

Meaningless hot air unless its back up with a plan on what to spend it on and where this 2.5% will come from.

Can we roll NSM out to other ships or does it need to be tested first?

HMS Somerset Somerset sailed on 9th February but suffered another breakdown of some kind and returned home after just 2 days at sea. She has been stuck in Devonport ever since. Now more than two years after her refit was completed, she is still unavailable, failing to participate in planned exercis...

Also didn't mention we are only upgrading 148 out of 227 in active use (down from the 350-380 odd we have in storage)

I wonder why

Please do share. All I've heard is an aspiration to fit Mk 41 VLS of indeterminate size and contents. No orders for the Mk 41 as of April 2024, yet launching for out fitting soon (Press X for doubt on my part for it to appear) Bit sad that a small country with a tiny navy is thinking of 5 top ASW f...

Personally I think it is an absolute no brainer, if we're not prepared to divert the occasional hull to a close ally then we should just give up on the export market. In France or Italy there'd be nothing to discuss. Hopefully the Navy are just using this as a bit of leverage with Treasury - maybe ...

Bloody hell, what a choice to make. Nice to see the UK government ham fisted approach to the Type 26 coming back to kick us in the ass again. That positive note I had yesterday lasted less than 24 hours. A British bid to sell submarine-hunting warships to Norway cannot go ahead unless the Royal Navy...

Sorry, just catching up on the recent Type 26 articles, so my thinking is a bit all over the place. How refreshing it is to see a recover plan for a defence project, it doesn’t matter where you go F-35’s, E-7s, ajax, ect you get the same old story, Covid, Covid, Covid, private industry had to come u...

HMS Cardiff looking very clean, upcoming launch?

I know it will reduced numbers for a while but would it be beneficial to send our F-35's to the states (soon or within the next few years) to get them upgrade to the TR3, this way all aircraft will be block 4 capable when it arrives. Like people have said even when block 4 arrives in 2028, all our a...

We all know the type 31 was not chosen cause it was a proven design.

Are we getting APAR radar and C-FLEX Combat Management System for our Type 31's?

The government really has backed themselves into one hell of a corner on this one. When it comes to funding and what to do with it we have this wonderful catch 22 going on, if they admit they need funding and what they would spend it on the question becomes "why did you cut it in the first plac...

We really getting the 31's in service before the 26's?

Bob was the one taking the pictures

As long as Project Tempest was a thing France and Germany was never going to let FCAS fail.

Hopefully having both will keep both sides on their toes.

Hey if 11 years to integrate Meteor on the F-35 is not a prime example of it being "easily modifiable" then I guess there is no pleasing some people [/sarcasm]

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... thi-drone/

Surface Drones now, I wonder how ambitious their targets will be.

E-7 Wedgetail to enter service next year https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/e-7-wedgetail-to-enter-service-next-year “The Wedgetail Full Business Case is planned for submission in March 2024, and an approval is expected from the Ministry of Defence in late 2024. The Wedgetail aircraft will commence fl...

Are those the last of the F-35B without the TR3?