Would the drone be more limited by weather than a merlin aswell ? on the flip side though - the drone is way more expendable the crew of the merlin ! but would still like to have J -ASROC weopon for speed, more options are good to have in a potential life & death situation

Did i also read that there is a lack of space at Marham for future 'Lots' of F35 ?

ps in one proposal i seem to remeber the QEC carriers having the radar & Viper missile system like the T45 but was omitted as it was huge electronic "bullseye" & to expensive a & overkill as on deployment the would be escouted by T45, not to mention the extra cost to man & ...

Money - or lack of it ....... also as mentioned since the risk is tiny that she would need her CIWS back, why delay her SRVL trials trip anymore, when QE is on actual deplyment with f35 etc & is the 'on call' carrier, in a ideal world im sure things would be different as anticipated in the 90/20...

When the Tempest program starts showing its full potential late this decade or early 2030, perhaps the raf will offer up lightnings to the RN in exchange for the funds for the potential xtra f35b to be transfered to tempest product airframes.....but if the FAA get the 48 f35b that will a huge drain ...

Could this help with f35b dispersal operations - if needed - ?

why ? Germanys buying a few F35 - so why would they frown apon spain getting 15 (?) for their LHD ? probably wont happen though due to their budget as you say

Looks good ! was there a reason ( besides money ) whey they were not adopted ??

Maybe in 25 they will push the boat out & go for a 2 operational squadron CSG for a short deployment ? ......

Thunderbird 2

if they did sell 1 LPD ( which may help short budget ) hopefully not both Albion & Bulwark !!! then order 6 MRSS they could "spin" it as an increase in numbers....

Would changing the 4-5 for 57mm be better on T45 ? certainly cheaper ...unless they just run down the ammo stocks when the T 23 bow out & stop using the114 when all is fired !

Baby steps - but welcome, start cheap & cheerful, workout the bugs then progress to something truely useful

Wonder how many F35 will be involved in the SRVL trials ?

Yes, the end of the decade will be busy with new hulls in the water replacing the well used T23 so avoiding delays as much as possible sounds like the way to go... get a couple of T31 & T26 up to speed then decide on up arming the T31 with mk41 by witch time the stocks of whatever is going in th...

Maybe instead of a lift fan they could of done - like the harriers - vectored rotating front nozzles that would of given it a little bit of lift ( not as much as the lift fan ) so giving it a shorter take off run & vectored front so it acted like a reverse thrust giving it a shorter landing dist...

Didnt know the italians had that, thanks

Now the UK are getting closer to japan with GCAP ( fingers crossed ) i wonder what are the chances of getting a few "J-ASROC" to help fill our mk41 on the T26 & T31 just incase a merlin is not availiable or bad weather when it cant launch ? maybe drones can do the job sooner than expec...

Simple question. Why no hanger? It’s a good question and I’ve thought about it, but for the following reasons I’d say no: - Adding a hangar makes these ships more expensive to build and operate. Having duplicated support teams and kit each for a few helicopters doesn’t make sense. Refuelling capabi...

Very interesting. Simple question. Why no hanger? Every other navy in the world that is operating LPDs have a way of embarking helos. Why are you so keen to ensure RN is the only navy in the world to operate a class of LPDs without hangers? Are all the other nations wrong or is the UK unique in its...

Would a GCAP without the UK nowhow & less funding be what the UK needs ? would the timeframe match our Typhoon replacement with less funding ? Would that also mean our aircraft industry goes the way of Westland etc is that what is best for our long-term interests ? thinking about not investing i...

The Oz T26 AAW/ASW combi isn't going according to plan, but maybe the T26 extra hulls 9 onwards could have the ER CAMM as an interim measure until the T83 ? & since the T45 as yet are still low ish mileage it may be a good fit, then the B3 could concentrate on carrier protection & the b1 T26...

Perhaps transferring all F35b to the FAA would solve all of the problems…. [/quote]. Would love to see that, but, don't the RAF own all the F35, so the RN would have to get some more money for ownership, perhaps in the long run two squadrons & maintainers ( out of four ? ) could be transferred t...

Cheers ! must of missed that vid - D'oh great to see a good variety of aircraft on their decks

Have U.S.marines embarked a Viper on a QEC yet ?