Thanks, an informative paper. I was particularly interested in the following ; (I know many here think fitting mk41 is a waste of money) As two examples of the adaptable features within the platform; the foundation structural seats for four 8-Cell Mk41 Strike Length VLS modules are built in the base...

Meanwhile, just for fun. That was fun. Noted he said Sea Ceptor can be used for surface targets, I thought that was just an aspiration, didn't know it was an operational thing. Yes, it is now operational - funded as an UCR and one of the reasons why fitting the LMM pod to the 30mm mount was not tak...

The black parts of the hulls could be related to the Prairie Masker system which creates an air bubble to reduce transmitted noise. It is fitted to the type 23 frigates and possibly other ships.

https://i.imgur.com/l13x7Gp.jpg There was a different radar equipped version as well...arguably better looking... https://i.imgur.com/M2EHBfU.jpg Back to QE...hope there will be some good pictures coming out of Oslo on Monday... This takes me back to my youth - TEMI was Thorn EMI's private venture ...

I don't think my comments have been refuted at all. Previous posters have confirmed my summary of GFX provision for Type 31 based on open source material. What we do disagree about is your assertion that various people have tried to distort the cost etc of the ships to save face. I don't believe thi...

Thanks, I think your figures are in the correct ball park. A type 31 being around a third of the cost of the type 26. I still think the type 26 is over priced given that the plan was always to drive the cost down by cross decking and re using equipment. The separate value for money discussion is int...

Donald, thanks. I have not read the NAO report so dont know the rationale for the programme cost quoted. It is probably based on the approved cost in the Main or Full Business Case depending which approvals regime was in place at the time. This will include risk within costing,initial in service sup...

Sorry if I have missed an earlier post but the first ship has been selected and should in service by March next year. The second ship has not yet been selected but could be a new
build. I'm trying to remember the name of the first one - two words both beginning with S.

Thanks Jim, a useful post. Both sides limit the amount of GFX and it has to be to the benefiit of both sides. The discussion so far has circulated around the costs of the Type 26 and Type 31 programmes. Much equipment is purchased separately to the platform such as CAMM - common anti air modular mis...

My point is very simple. I'm fed up of people making stuff up on this and most forums. From open source material, the price of the Type 31 contract is a fixed price of £1.25m as Badcock were not prepared to accept pricing risk. The only other costs have been for 3 sets of mounting hardware for sonar...

Thanks for your answer Ron, I dont need to use google as I know the answer to my question. I'm guessing that you don't know the answer to it, but still feel able to comment.

So for previous posters - Ron5 etc, how much new GWS35 equipment has been bought for the Type 31 programme ?

Apparently, the batch 2 contract is due to signed before Christmas which will be for 5 ships. HMS Birmingham first steel cut will happen soon after wards.

The delay in the type 26 is unforgiveable. Remember that lessons were meant to be learnt from the type 45 programme with respect to a new weapon system, command system, sensor system with 80 % of the equipment being developed for the class. The type 26 was designed to reverse that figure by maximisi...