Also that crane behind the MK 56 ESSM VLS looks interesting.... The cranes are fitted to the Iver Huitfeldt class. Its used for reloading the amidships Stanflex modules. Curious how often/if ever it's been used? The USN stopped reloading at sea, with their deck mounted VLS. Doing so on top of the s...

I like the lack of any 12-cell CAMM launcher in sight!

Also that crane behind the MK 56 ESSM VLS looks interesting....

dmereifield wrote:

Tempest414 wrote:This could lead the Saudi's to replace there Tornado's with F-35

And/or press them into ordering more Typhoons?

The main sticking point there (unless I've missed something) remains a certain Angela Merkel..

Some updates from the folks over at Amalgam on their 1:72 Type 31 model. Modularity in a box: https://twitter.com/Amalgammodels/status/1321092770359136262?s=19 https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ElV23HPXIAI15fs?format=jpg&name=large https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ElV23HVXYAI5OHO?format=jpg&name=large

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4Sxjn668ow Excellent interview. Thanks for sharing. Strong points about relative distances. Until recently I'd suggest the use of sites in Southern Azerbaijan would likely be another option, however that frontier is now far too hot and I expect will remain so for th...

transport infantry forces. Gantz might be more easily persuaded by the need to get SF far behind the 'enemy lines'... and back again plenty quick (than AF's some obscure increased maintenance burden argument) It's not about which argument is right, but rather about what (capability wise) is importa...

I'm assuming this is just (very) wishful thinking, though after normalisation with UAE/Bahrain/Sudan, anything seem possible: Israel Asks U.S. for F-22 Stealth Jets to Preserve Military Edge Israeli defense officials have confirmed that Jerusalem has asked senior American officials to consider remov...

An Italian businessman guilty of fraud. What is the world coming to? Devil in the detail: has been found guilty of fraud I still remember the India VVIP Merlin contract that went so badly it led to a ban on AgustaWestland/Leo.. selling to India at all. Not sure if its been lifted yet? Convinced tha...

Apparently announced in Spain earlier in the summer. Airbus ES announces a new advanced trainer, with some links to the cancelled EADS Mako/HEAT from back in the late 1990s. Airbus has presented to a small number of media the Airbus Flexible Jet Trainer, AFJT , the offer for the Air Force to replace...

Have used up my free FT articles, buy saw Tony Osborne quoted a DV/GVA multiplier on Twitter. Asked him if that was based on a UK only project: "UK only at this point, this is the bullet point: "For every £100 of direct value added generated by the Tempest programme partners, £220 of GVA 4...

Ok first of all, this was very much me fag packet spit-balling about the lack of SSNs in RN service. Realistically we should be grateful that the seventh Astute wasn't cancelled, or that we haven't lost a hull like France. I'd say there is little to no chance of anything being built until Dreadnough...

I had the same thought but implemented the other way round, on extra Astute hulls. Then started to ponder whether something that has been developed for fat and slow (silent) boomers could simply be dropped on top of the sleeker(?) hunter-killers designed to 'go fast'? - studying the Virginia class ...

Article in Forbes criticising the proposed shift to a reduced number of CVNs and the introduction of a new lighter carrier/LHA-6 development: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2020/10/13/why-secretary-espers-call-for-light-carriers-would-make-the-us-navy-weaker/ Overall the writer suggests ...

Whereas we should probably have interleaved Astute & Dreadnought builds. :mrgreen: Considering the amount of R&D and investment required for Dreadnought, I'd be curious what the opportunity cost of ordering three more as SSGNs, with a reduced missile payload (4 or 8 tubes) would be? HMS Ast...

The fact that ' Abraham Accord' had a side letter of F-35s for UAE is the driver for this; effectively Qatar saying that if you do not love me more, you'll have to demonstrate at least equal 'love' They may very well overplay their hand. Despite very public noises to the contrary, Jerusalem is pret...

Qatar makes formal request for F-35 jets They're not building an air force. They're building a flying circus, and buying influence with their defence budget. If (and I sincerely hope not) this goes through, they will add to a fleet of: 24 x Typhoons 24 x Rafales 36 x Strike Eagles 12 x Mirage 2000 ...

SECNAV Braithwaite Names First FFG(X) USS Constellation Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite announced today that the first FFG(X) guided-missile frigate would be named Constellation, making the announcement from the second ship to bear that name: USS Constellation, a sloop-of-war launched in 1854 an...

Be great to start with and maybe a few of t31 class for a follow on loan ,say build one in UK and another 2 in Ukraine ...just a thought like Like the sound of that. Probably too late for the five that are on order, but maybe we could interest them in a number of Type 31s with some of the blocks fo...

So the UK could loan Ukraine 1.2 billion to build 8 new fast attack boats and the talk is of Vita or super-Vita class ships and if this goes ahead and works another loan for a new class of ship this could be good news for Appledore Saw this on the STRN site, not sure where the rumour started though...

bobp wrote:Getting ready for exercise...........

That lightning bolt on the tail new?

Really like how we've developed a 'lightning force' brand. Our F-35s were looking a bit too minimalist before!

It has begun.... Royal Navy Video: https://twitter.com/RoyalNavy/status/1313055815838953473?s=20 Freeze frames (not exactly the finest quality, but hopefully a taster for more to come!): https://twitter.com/air_intel/status/1313055795995717632?s=20 https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EjjpQWSWAAEMsR3?format=...

Does anyone know the state of RFA Diligence? Funny you should ask, was considering her last night after seeing the Serco ship Northern River on Twitter... Unfortunately it looks like her situation has deteriorated, somewhat recently. Evidently boredom is staring to set in with the Navy, just as wit...

One last ride on the HMS Hermes preservation rollercoaster: Ready to sell warship 'Viraat' for Rs 100 crore https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/ready-to-sell-warship-viraat-for-rs-100-crore-if-company-gets-noc-shree-ram-group/articleshow/78425379.cms Since the ship was bought as scrap ...

Meanwhile on the other side of La Manche... The worst two international partners ever (honorable mention to India), together, just the two of them, on a highly visible, highly political and very expensive program. What possibly could go wrong? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: In fairness t...

used to 'sweeten' less palatable parts of the defence review. Very much last chance saloon for Yeovil. Likely (but will there be gapping? Not necessarily in lift with the 16 new Chinooks on the way; if we keep the older ones a tad longer that is) If those 16 fully loaded Chinooks go ahead, 'AND' we...