Search found 169 matches

by AndyC
16 Jan 2024, 07:47
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Joint Helicopter Command Integrated Review Refresh 2023
Replies: 2
Views: 249
United Kingdom

Joint Helicopter Command Integrated Review Refresh 2023

The UK’s helicopter fleet has seen the harshest level of cuts since SDSR10 with helicopter numbers virtually halved from 515 in 2010 to 263 by 2023. However, investment in the remaining fleet has been high with most helicopters undergoing significant modernisation. This includes the Apache AH1 to AH...
by AndyC
08 Jan 2024, 17:08
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Air Command Integrated Review Refresh 2023
Replies: 8
Views: 1170
United Kingdom

Re: Air Command Integrated Review Refresh 2023

Air Command and Strategic Programmes Top Level Budgets 2023-33. Based on the MoD defence equipment plan 2023, published on December 4th. Total of £23.1 billion in Uncommitted Equipment Procurement, as of March 2023. Consolidating the Top Level Budgets for Strategic Programmes (£16.3 billion, includ...
by AndyC
31 May 2023, 06:44
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Air Command Integrated Review Refresh 2023
Replies: 8
Views: 1170
United Kingdom

Re: Air Command Integrated Review Refresh 2023

According to the MoD's latest Major Projects report the total budget for Protector is currently estimated at £1.517 billion. That comes to £94.8 million or U$117.6 milllon each. The dfference between the UK's price and Taiwan/Greece is probably down to a combination of economies of scale plus additi...
by AndyC
24 May 2023, 07:59
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Air Command Integrated Review Refresh 2023
Replies: 8
Views: 1170
United Kingdom

Re: Air Command Integrated Review Refresh 2023

UPDATE The Sea Protector UCAV is currently being trialled under Project Mojave, to examine whether they can operate from a Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier. This would enhance the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities of the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) thanks to the increased numbers of AS...
by AndyC
17 May 2023, 07:45
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)
Replies: 2804
Views: 763522
United Kingdom

Re: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)

Wouldn't Germany veto the sale of Typhoon to Turkey?
by AndyC
14 May 2023, 08:38
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Air Command Integrated Review Refresh 2023
Replies: 8
Views: 1170
United Kingdom

Re: Air Command Integrated Review Refresh 2023

In answer to your point 3 it has been very challenging to esimate the precise Unit Recurring Flyaway (URF) cost for future years because the information for past contracts is released long after the event. So in general I have tended to err on the side of caution. The U$ price I've used above is U$1...
by AndyC
11 May 2023, 08:41
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Air Command Integrated Review Refresh 2023
Replies: 8
Views: 1170
United Kingdom

Air Command Integrated Review Refresh 2023

Moving Beyond Austerity, 2015-23 The top priority for the MoD must be to provide sufficient forces to defend the UK’s airspace, territorial waters and ocean floor communication cables. That means maintaining a credible minimum nuclear deterrent and keeping hostile aircraft, ships and submarines out...
by AndyC
06 May 2023, 10:19
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Boeing E-7 Wedgetail (RAF)
Replies: 595
Views: 182084
United Kingdom

Re: Boeing E-7 Wedgetail (RAF)

This illustrates yet another reason to restore the original order for five aircraft. If we want to save money just make sure they're secondhand aircraft!
by AndyC
29 Mar 2021, 17:40
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7055974
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

The Defence Command Paper says "The paper announces the retirement of the two oldest Type 23 frigates." The Sun announced the early retirement of two specialist anti-submarine frigates - HMS Monmouth and HMS Montrose. They are, however, not ant-submarine frigates but general purpose frigat...
by AndyC
18 Mar 2021, 12:36
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7055974
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

In the details of Navy Command to 2030 I've estimated that the Royal Navy could get an additional 1,100 personnel out of the increased budget for the next four years. That's just about enough for five Type 23s. Sources are also being quoted above by ArmChairCivvy that HMS Lancaster and HMS Iron Duke...
by AndyC
18 Mar 2021, 08:01
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7055974
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

From Navy Command to 2030 Here's how a revised schedule for the retirement and replacement of the T23 frigates might look. Prior to 2030 3xT31 and 2xT26 are due to be commissioned then ... You can see the schedule on page 8 of the Navy Command to 2030 post but for some reason I can't get it to tran...
by AndyC
16 Mar 2021, 16:40
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Navy Command to 2030
Replies: 208
Views: 11695
United Kingdom

Re: Navy Command to 2030

The 2020 Spending Review Prior to the Spending Review the government was committed to increasing defence spending by inflation + 0.5%. In real terms this amounts to an extra £2 billion over the four years from 2021/22 to 2024/25. In the 2020 Spending Review the government announced it would provide...
by AndyC
16 Mar 2021, 16:40
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Navy Command to 2030
Replies: 208
Views: 11695
United Kingdom

Re: Navy Command to 2030

The 2020 Spending Review Prior to the Spending Review the government was committed to increasing defence spending by inflation + 0.5%. In real terms this amounts to an extra £2 billion over the four years from 2021/22 to 2024/25. In the 2020 Spending Review the government announced it would provide...
by AndyC
28 Jan 2021, 11:04
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Army Command to 2030
Replies: 51
Views: 3642
United Kingdom

Re: Army Command to 2030

Two weeks ago the MoD published the Defence Equipment Plan for 2020-30. Details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-defence-equipment-plan-2020 Unlike with previous plans this is just data without any text. This plan represents the situation as it was at the end of March 2...
by AndyC
26 Jan 2021, 09:46
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships
Replies: 178
Views: 28087
United Kingdom

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Most likely a replacement for Scott.
by AndyC
22 Jan 2021, 09:10
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030
Replies: 52
Views: 3401
United Kingdom

Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Unfortunately Crowsnest is meant to be covered from the 30 active Merlin HM2. You can see where the other Merlins are by looking here http://www.demobbed.org.uk/aircraft.php?type=725 What's interesting is that the HM1s are described as Stored which usually means in climate controlled conditions. Whe...
by AndyC
21 Jan 2021, 16:27
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030
Replies: 52
Views: 3401
United Kingdom

Re: Joint Helicopter Command to 2030

Last week the MoD published the Defence Equipment Plan for 2020-30. Details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-defence-equipment-plan-2020 Unlike with previous plans this is just data without any text. This plan represents the situation as it was at the end of March 2020,...
by AndyC
20 Jan 2021, 15:18
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Navy Command to 2030
Replies: 208
Views: 11695
United Kingdom

Re: Navy Command to 2030

Caribbean wrote £500m for a research ship seems a lot, particularly as RRS SDA cost round £235m in total, I believe (and I see no real reason to re-invent the wheel by going for a completely new design). There again, it could be a bit more secret squirrel than currently rumoured ..... £500m for an ...
by AndyC
20 Jan 2021, 09:56
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Navy Command to 2030
Replies: 208
Views: 11695
United Kingdom

Re: Navy Command to 2030

Tempest414 You have to be careful here just because the French say it is 160 others may do different if we look at JC-1 the Spanish crew is 265 but the Australians have 298 RAN crew but 358 whole ships crew. HMS Ocean was 285 but she was a older ship It is not inconceivable that with more automatio...
by AndyC
19 Jan 2021, 20:45
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Navy Command to 2030
Replies: 208
Views: 11695
United Kingdom

Re: Navy Command to 2030

ArmChairCivvy I think the crewing line in the comparison table is not quite 'pukka' Oy! That's a bit of a cheek. Which crew numbers are you objecting too? If it's the Mistral crew complement please see the shipbuilders own website https://chantiers-atlantique.com/en/ships/navy-ships/mistral-class-l...
by AndyC
19 Jan 2021, 14:14
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Navy Command to 2030
Replies: 208
Views: 11695
United Kingdom

Re: Navy Command to 2030

If you look at the chart below you can clearly see the advantages of replacing the two Albions, RFA Argus and the three Bays with four LHD. Littoral capability.jpg In terms of crew the current position is that it would take 700 RN and 260 RFA personnel to fully crew all six ships. Replacing them wit...
by AndyC
19 Jan 2021, 09:48
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Navy Command to 2030
Replies: 208
Views: 11695
United Kingdom

Re: Navy Command to 2030

I believe we need an LHD to replace RFA Argus (see main article for my proposal).
by AndyC
19 Jan 2021, 09:45
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Navy Command to 2030
Replies: 208
Views: 11695
United Kingdom

Re: Navy Command to 2030

The original FFSS competition had a budget of £1.5 billion for three ships but was called off to change the criteria to allow for greater UK participation. Reading between the lines - the only way the bidders could get down to a unit cost of £500 million was to, at least partially if not mostly, bui...
by AndyC
18 Jan 2021, 12:01
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Navy Command to 2030
Replies: 208
Views: 11695
United Kingdom

Re: Navy Command to 2030

Last week the MoD published the Defence Equipment Plan for 2020-30. Details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-defence-equipment-plan-2020 Unlike with previous plans this is just data without any text. This plan represents the situation as it was at the end of March 2020,...
by AndyC
14 Jan 2021, 13:46
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Air Command to 2030
Replies: 150
Views: 9500
United Kingdom

Re: Air Command to 2030

Yes, I guess that's a real possibility.

Up to now I've been arguing for the retention of the four Sentinels and buying eight Sea Protectors but I guess some additional P-8 Poseidons might be better.

How many extra do you think the RAF would need to get at least the same capability?