Search found 363 matches

by Phil Sayers
09 May 2023, 13:50
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19146
Views: 7053028

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Just CGI or a sign of things to come? https://des.mod.uk/type-31-contract-mission-test-integration-facility/ The wording of the final paragraph is interesting / a little concerning. Maybe nothing is meant by it but what leapt off the page for me is that there is no mention of a war-fighting role, c...
by Phil Sayers
09 May 2023, 11:44
Forum: Conflicts
Topic: The war in Ukraine
Replies: 1156
Views: 84774

Re: The war in Ukraine

Speculation that Storm Shadow is imminent and a confident statement that they could be fired by Ukraine's existing aircraft:

by Phil Sayers
08 May 2023, 17:46
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19146
Views: 7053028

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

A Type 23 carried out NGFS against Libyan artillery pieces and it was also carried out on the Al Faw peninsula in 2003. Yes, anti-shipping missiles have proliferated since then but it is still a relevant and important capability IMO. In fact, much more likely to actually be used than the high-end mi...
by Phil Sayers
08 May 2023, 17:28
Forum: British Army
Topic: Ground Based Air Defence
Replies: 684
Views: 190211

Re: Ground Based Air Defence

Suggestions that the Khinzal misfired, doubt that a Patriot has the capability to take out a fully operational Mach 10+ Khinzal, currently a lot of pressure from US Congress on the MDA to come up with a Glide Phase Interceptor, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman have each won contracts to continue devel...
by Phil Sayers
04 May 2023, 13:01
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Future UK Combat Aircraft (Project Tempest)
Replies: 4029
Views: 947309

Re: Future UK Combat Aircraft (Project Tempest)

Still loads of A / B model Hornets knocking around, many of which have been updated to near C / D standard. I have read before that the original Hornets have great reliability and ease of maintenance while the main criticism (too short-ranged) does not really apply to Ukraine as the range they do ha...
by Phil Sayers
04 May 2023, 11:46
Forum: Conflicts
Topic: The war in Ukraine
Replies: 1156
Views: 84774

Re: The war in Ukraine

The problem I have with this theory is that if Russia had a means to decapitate Ukraine's leadership they would have just done it rather than hold back until they had this 'justification'. They have attempted to assassinate Zelensky before on a few occasions. I just cannot see the motivation for a f...
by Phil Sayers
03 May 2023, 13:56
Forum: Conflicts
Topic: The war in Ukraine
Replies: 1156
Views: 84774

Re: The war in Ukraine

Trolling turned into an art form. Make a total mockery of Russia's air defences and do it so precisely as to hit the flag on top of the Kremlin without doing any real damage. (Lots of speculation this could be a false flag attack which I'm not ruling out but I don't see how that is compatible with t...
by Phil Sayers
01 May 2023, 13:15
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 83 Destroyer (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 324
Views: 123106

Re: Type 83 Destroyer (RN) [News Only]

As I understand it, the main rationale for the USN having its old nuclear powered cruisers was so that there were escorts that could keep up with the nuclear powered carriers making sustained high speed transits over considerable distances even if it meant leaving the other escorts behind. In a situ...
by Phil Sayers
30 Apr 2023, 17:23
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19146
Views: 7053028

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Please excuse my ignorance but what is CAAM-EX? Is it a future development designed to have longer range still than CAMM-ER?
by Phil Sayers
25 Apr 2023, 17:48
Forum: Conflicts
Topic: The war in Ukraine
Replies: 1156
Views: 84774

Re: The war in Ukraine

JDAM-ER in use. Could make a big difference if supplied in bulk but I suspect the US will drip-feed supplying these:

by Phil Sayers
10 Apr 2023, 16:34
Forum: Conflicts
Topic: The war in Ukraine
Replies: 1156
Views: 84774

Re: The war in Ukraine

by Phil Sayers
06 Apr 2023, 13:11
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)
Replies: 2803
Views: 762630

Re: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)

I am far from convinced this will make any difference at all, even if both countries were to sincerely wish a drastic change in their relationship. Simply too many different regional disagreements such as over Yemen, Iran's influence on Iraq and the Assad regime which is compounded by escalating ten...
by Phil Sayers
05 Apr 2023, 14:55
Forum: Conflicts
Topic: The war in Ukraine
Replies: 1156
Views: 84774

Re: The war in Ukraine



Given that Poland has been planning to do this for quite some time I wonder whether these aircraft have received a few discrete modifications such as e.g the ability to fire Storm Shadow.
by Phil Sayers
03 Apr 2023, 18:00
Forum: Conflicts
Topic: The war in Ukraine
Replies: 1156
Views: 84774

Re: The war in Ukraine

I am thinking it could be Aspide which was confirmed to be delivered circa six months ago but about which there does not seem to have been any further mention since.
by Phil Sayers
30 Mar 2023, 16:04
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)
Replies: 2803
Views: 762630

Re: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)

The Israelis will be 'very jittery' about Saudi aquasision of an Aircraft in Tempests category. An aircraft capable of penetrating their Air Defence Systems, very jittery indeed. Such a purchase would likely bring in the Americans on Israel's bequest, with serious pressure to either ensure Saudi Ar...
by Phil Sayers
30 Mar 2023, 14:05
Forum: Conflicts
Topic: The war in Ukraine
Replies: 1156
Views: 84774

Re: The war in Ukraine

I have seen a few videos of the 300 version being used (it looks very effective) but can't recall any footage at all of the 600 model. Is that definitely in use already or just scheduled to be delivered?
by Phil Sayers
22 Mar 2023, 13:08
Forum: British Army
Topic: Apache Attack Helicopter (British Army Air Corps)
Replies: 608
Views: 211459

Re: Apache Attack Helicopter (British Army Air Corps)

The logic of replacing attack helicopters due to being too vulnerable relies on an assumption that future combat will be high intensity warfare in a formidable AD environment. In reality, there will also likely continue to be much lower intensity operations for which Apaches et al are well suited.
by Phil Sayers
12 Mar 2023, 12:27
Forum: Conflicts
Topic: The war in Ukraine
Replies: 1156
Views: 84774

Re: The war in Ukraine

Not sure where best to put this but an interesting video on how the British Army are teaching infantry tactics:

by Phil Sayers
28 Feb 2023, 13:33
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2616
Views: 479403

Re: Australian Defence Force

What happened post 2002 was not imo wise or has it improved the security situation it again imo has made things worse from a security perspective. So I would argue the policy and merits of an interventionist expeditionary defence posture are not wise. The counterpoint to this is that a good argumen...
by Phil Sayers
22 Feb 2023, 22:42
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)
Replies: 2803
Views: 762630

Re: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)

That 150 mile combat radius would be at what level - high (equalling very vulnerable to AD) or low? Sorry but I don't know enough about a Hawk's performance, fuel efficiency at different altitudes or aerodynamics in general to be properly able to answer the question. What I will say is that I would...
by Phil Sayers
22 Feb 2023, 20:35
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)
Replies: 2803
Views: 762630

Re: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)

Well if you want an idea of comparison one of the typhoon design points was for it to hold a cap for a couple of hours at 100 nm range. I suspect in combat you could change the hawk radius of action you quote to it range without much loiter time. Agreed but I don't think it negates the point I made...
by Phil Sayers
22 Feb 2023, 19:36
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)
Replies: 2803
Views: 762630

Re: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)

When people are suggesting planes for Ukraine from turboprop trainers or small jets this is maybe a helpful graphic as no aar is available https://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/country-size-comparison/ukraine/united-kingdom An important point no doubt but not sure it is a determinative one. If this graph...
by Phil Sayers
22 Feb 2023, 18:57
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)
Replies: 2803
Views: 762630

Re: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)

Poland's upgraded MiG-29s (and those of a few other countries) are an obvious short-term solution and indeed remain the topic of a very long running saga dating back pretty much a year. F-16s or Gripens would be the obvious long term solution but politics and practicality heavily count against anyth...
by Phil Sayers
19 Feb 2023, 14:26
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19146
Views: 7053028

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

I do think it would be worth considering a Hi-Lo mix consisting of 2 x large, gold plated and extremely expensive cruisers (and may as well term them as such) for dedicated carrier group AAW and cruise missile barrages with 4 x much smaller / more basic AAW destroyers to fill out the fleet. I cannot...
by Phil Sayers
18 Feb 2023, 18:02
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)
Replies: 2803
Views: 762630

Re: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)

Even if a decision to deliver fast jets is made soon it would still be a long, long time before they are in the air over Ukraine. This talk of long range weapons implies something much sooner that can be used in weeks or a couple of months. I would go with this in order of probability: 1. Helping Uk...