I only raise this example to show what £50m to £60m can buy new or £30m to £40m used. Knud E.Hansen have some really interesting designs, especially for Ro-Ro vessels. As you say, they're not particularly expensive, but I think most are assembled in China. https://www.knudehansen.com/references/?su...

All in all I'd say they were the most likely to join, probably ahead of Sweden even. Well that bodes well if Francis Tusa has this correct: https://twitter.com/FTusa284/status/1096493441368784896?s=19 There's also a slide doing the rounds from back in November courtesy of Gareth Jennings: https://p...

Is there anything more firm on Italy joining? I'm sure it's still early days and whatever talks that have or will take place are going to be pretty low-key for now. The diplomatic spat between them and the French can't bode too well for a joint EU fighter collaboration though. Recalling the French ...

seem to be akin to the originally-planned "seabasing" versions of the SSS. - a budget version - and with two, you'll always have at least one available Going back to the good old noughties (with a little help from the Navy Matters archive), gives some retro insight into this 'brand new' p...

HMS Penny, a fine looking ship with impressive curved lines..... In all seriousness though, could this be a role for The SoS's converted ferry concept? Otherwise there seem to be a few small UK designs, like the BMT Salvas (optimised for HADR) that could fit the bill https://www.bmt.org/sectors/defe...

The guy's on a roll:



Jensy

Another Type 26 named, with Type 42 and Town Class Cruiser heritage.



Leaves no. 5 and 7 to be named...

Still hoping for HMS Watford... If anyone's seen Brasseye.

Jensy

https://twitter.com/AdmPhilipJones/status/1065626224779845632?s=09 Interesting development, though not sure it's something to get ecstatic about with the tightness of the budget. I wonder if this will see the early paying off of some T23 GPs? Jensy EDIT: Notice that HMS Clyde goes unmentioned. Presu...

Contrary to 'folklore' about T31 being a rushed idea, the decision to to split the class in two (8+5) was taken in 2010, but seeing T-26 through the main gate took longer than anyone had expected [...] Officially, of course,T-31 only came out of the 2015 SDSR ( by then it was apparent to all that T...

Take a look at this from Euronaval 18. This is very different to the CGI we saw before. Forward, middle and rear cells. Looks like there is still a Harpoon space, although pretty tight. No boat bays? https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/1057923936107814912 I believe those photos are from last nig...

Well this probably reduces the likelihood of Turkish involvement in project Tempest, or at very least the powerplant: https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2018/10/31/general-electric-beats-rolls-royce-to-power-turkeys-indigenous-fighter-jet/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Socialflow+DFN&utm_...

https://twitter.com/hmsqnlz/status/1050148328598593541?s=21 QE got her visitor today as expected Quick! Get the pilots blind drunk and get a team to paint roundels on the sides and 'Royal' before 'Navy'. When they sober up explain that parking is at your own liability on Big Lizzie and possession b...

Taken from Wikipedia but referenced to 'The Australian' (behind a pay wall so can't confirm): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter-class_frigate "At the same time as BAE Systems was announced as the winner, the names of the first three units were announced as being HMAS Hunter (named for Vice...

The RNs going to have to be careful with ships names if they are going to start painting logos on the ships! Drat - that's HMS Fanny off the list then! Shame, we could have made some inroads with POTUS as we look to name the second Dreadnought Class: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Trump_(P333)...

Reports today in the Telegraph and Express ........ could all be nonsense but Gavin Williamson had a lot of form with leaking to the Telegraph when he was chief whip and this fits his style. Hidden in the Express report is an interesting snippet. Seen a reference to it before, but first time I've s...

I'm sure many have seen already... Reports today in the Telegraph and Express (neither known for their defence reporting accuracy.. 5" toothbrushes etc.) that the SoS for Defence is looking to curtail the F-35 order after the first 48 and purchase further Typhoons. The European manufactured jet...

The UK could always offer to buy some German armored vehicles & trucks in exchange for them buying British frigates. Oh wait a minute .... If they're willing to let us build 40% value of their future warships (as Boxer), it would be a worthwhile deal! I don't see any how the scenario described ...

Just saw the below article on 'DefenseNews': https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2018/04/04/netherlands-very-welcome-to-join-european-sub-program-with-a-caveat/ Though the headline and main focus is on subs, the article goes on to explain that any work with the Dutch on future SSK's will be li...

Great video SKB! I think some of the remote sensors going into modern mini/micro sats could really turn these into ideal 'eye's in the sky'. Beyond combat roles, these could revolutionise disaster and humanitarian response, without the need to stick something in Low Earth Orbit, and the costs that e...

Apologies, went through all the RAF topics. Didn't know about this thread. I'd say it's more likely the work will be transferred away from Farnborough and the MP is trying to get the a positive endorsement from the PM making it more difficult to cut the work in the future. Too cynical? I got an elem...

Airbus (formerly QinetiQ) Zephyr High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) https://www.suasnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/zephyr-twin-tail.jpg Something that has irritated me by it's ambiguity (and lack of a decent press release) is where exactly the future Zephyr UAV/HAPS we have on order are goi...

You won't be seeing two wildcats operating from any RN escort. It is a single Wildcat or single Merlin. Whether some sort of VTOL UAV, if small enough is also operated is another matter, but those are on the "Nice to have", wish list at the moment. No doubt on the UAV. I suppose this then...

Are these wings potentially foldable? If not, will this prevent two Wildcats fitting in a single hangar on the T26 and T45? Probably not something of the highest concern right now, but it always seemed like a nice option if needed. As an aside I was lucky enough to visit Yeovil a few years back with...

With the 24 strike length MK41 cells on the City Class, surely they are far better potential platforms to extend AAW capability (with a radar upgrade)? They could carry 16 x Aster 30 (or equivalent) plus 8 x ASuW missiles or Tomahawks which is greater than the Italian FREMM and French FTI - before c...

The Wirral Globe suggests the concept is going to be an "innovative frigate design, known as ' Leander '" http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/15604098.Cammell_Laird_strikes____Teaming_Agreement____with_BAE_Systems_in_bid_to_build_warships/ Bit on the nose, or setting a high standard? Jensy