I fully agree, in that the more the spot light shines on the Armed Forces and the inherent fragility it not suffers from the better. However the british public, except those with a direct link to the Armed Forces seem to care very little for how the lack of proper funding has affected the capability...

As advertised it will still be a far better platform for many of the jobs the UK si currently using RFAs and RN research vessels for. It isn't a war fighter but then until possible future refits it won't be used as such. If a Wildcat is carried it still will pack quite a punch and a 57mm, if the rig...

At DSEI it seems the latest Carl Gustav is being pushed very hard towards the British Army, emphasising its now relatively light weight and great flexibility. Considering the latest version is almost half the weight of the Old M2 and had a bewildering array of ammo types it could be a good add on to...

Just read an article regarding BAe pushing the T-26 for the USN FF(X) programme. The comment that court my eye was the fact that the current cost of a AB Destroyer is only slightly less than the current price of the RN's version of the T-26. Surely this is not the case for if it is the RN and Britis...

According to the News we cannot use money from the Aid Budget for the relief missions in the Caribbean Islands because of international law!? Supposedly it is because the GDP of these islands is too high to qualify. You couldn't make this stuff up.

Unfortunately there are too many other politically sensitive priorities in front of defence for there to be any credible increase in defence spending. IF the MoD can keep what it has already planned for and purchase the kit planned in the stated quantities they will be doing well. £178Bn is a nice n...

It is not for the Defence Budget to encourage a strong economy or build/maintain and industrial base, that is for other departments to do and for what they are funds for. The Defence budget is to maintain our country's Armed Forces to provide security for this country. And I am far from a believer t...

Well we used to use SSNs and SSs until the end of the Cold War meant we saw the threat dropping to almost non existent level and thought our relatively large Escort fleet could carry the load and be more flexible. Then we decided the threat was such we didn't need as many escorts. And then falling b...

Rather than putting Sampson on the Carriers why not fit sponsons, each with between 8 and 16 Sylver A50s, some carrying multiple Sea Ceptor, the remainder Sea Viper to be cued by the T45 escorts, increasing the number of rounds available. Current plans seen to suggest the escort fleet will expand pa...

Certainly less insane as it didn't have rocket fuel fumes detonating upon landing. The Lightning was our last true fighter until the Typhoon came along and now that is becoming a true swing role platform. We never used the air to ground capability of the Lightning except for its Aden cannon, but the...

I agree and it should really be Brigade, single not Brigades.

Wasn't sortie generation the whole reason behind the size of the new carriers and why it have been criminal (and I mean that) as well as incompetent the way the procurement of the air group for them has been handled by Government, the Civil Service and the Military. A hard target should be set for 2...

The Merlin/CROWSNEST is not a swing role platform, it required major work to remove and install new terminals etc., and this will probably done ashore during maintenance. It can be done on deployment I am sure but I doubt it will unless absolutely necessary And I doubt spare full sets will be carrie...

I understand the benefits of the wave of smaller high penetration rounds as used by the MP7 and the P90, and I have heard some stories regarding the MP7 being either seriously looked at or in use with some people. But the US has a thing for man stoppers like the .45 especially when they are allowed ...

Anyone have a clue if our SF have followed the US in adopting larger pistol and SMG rounds such as 10mm or .45 for their CQB rigs?

Well the one in the down HM2 will also probably get a full service and if everything is scheduled one of the HM2s coming out of deep maintenance will have been fitted out as a CROWSNEST carrier keeping the fleet at 6. The remaining 3 will be either in storage or undergoing deep maintenance themselve...

I think the US Military can live with the 9mm as a whole, with specialise units being able to choose their own calibres as needed. I am more concerned that the US may move away from 5.56 which will force NATO to change as it has in the past adopting 7.62 and 5.56.

It could be said we have built a Super ARG, but we are not the USMC. I double we will ever land more than a single commando on a beach by any means in the future, and even then it will never be through a defended front door. The Royal Navy's priority for the Carriers is going to be Air Defence follo...

Wasn't in the original design, just a pad. Realised the mistake but couldn't be incorporated until Flight IIA. These were not fitted with Phalanx CIWS as they marked for ESSM installation though it was later decided to fit a single Phalanx to each vessel. AS has been stated the ships that are part o...

I agree, the Carrier Task Farce IS going to be the force the UK generates, the only one, assuming a carrier is actually available when needed and that is not a certainty yet. Any amphibious shipping is going to have to tag along using the same escort group.

I cannot see CROWSNEST being installed removed on board the Carriers. This is almost certainly going to happen when an existing CROWSNEST Merlin going into deep maintenance, so we will probably have six installations at any given time. The plus side is any Merlin HM2 can become the host so it will n...

With the MAG, it is referred to as a General Purpose machine Gun because it is designed go from Light Role (bi-pod) to sustained fire (tri-pod) with no modification, though often the butt is removed. So it doesn't count as a conversion just doing what it says on the tin. Yes other nations have chang...

It could be a way to save money but if so we should go the whole way and cancel SPEAR beyond Brimstone 2, and the two systems destined for the Wildcat. Yes the SPEAR programme is one of the few successful, or at least appears so, development programmes but it is another of the UKs bespoke programmes...

If you mean out in the field on patrol then I think the answer is a big no with the possible exception of a platform that can go from battle rifle to sniper in certain units. However in a FOB before setting out it could be feasible but is there really enough to be gained by doing so. I think have a ...

I have visited RAF Binbrook when they were doing QRA, and when they launched at dusk, going vertical almost as soon as they left the ground together with the after burner plume was quite a sight and loud to say the least. I also remember the F2As stored at RAF Wildenrath as decoys near the runway in...