If ASW is the key driver then the T-26 will probably win, and specialised ASW is something the RAN as really lacked for quite some time. IF China is seen as the main threat, and given the size and growing sophistication of its boats, the RAN is going to need more then the Collins class and its succe...

Well if this is an exercise to concentrate the minds of the Defence Chiefs on what the UK's core capabilities should be then I do not think it is that bad. For too long they have tried to match the US and jumped on whatever the latest fad is from the them, simply look how the US Army's FCS caused th...

Oh well who wants to have the UK's seat at the UN Security Council then? We cannot justify our place if we are not a top table player, having Nukes doesn't count as other nations have more than we do and are not at the table permanently.

Mercator wrote:M113 Armoured Logistics Vehicle (ALV). Or a "Ute" to its friends. Says here that they made 50:
http://www.military-today.com/apc/m113as4.htm

Cheers for the info.

What Gavin Williamson should do is publish/leak the raw recommendations and costing before the Treasury has its input, and challenge the Treasury to defend any actions that prevent these recommendations form being acted upon. If he can get this conversation into the public domain it would create a v...

It is definitely not a M548. Here is a link to the video, the vehicle appears around 9:31.

The MDP when published is going to be interesting. I have a feeling it is going to demand extra funding as it needs to just to meet existing commitments, and the Treasury's response will either kill it or if miracles happen actually allow thing to move forward. Place your bets.

Problem is I don't drink. Maybe that's the problem

Going down the 737 based platform route seems to make sense. They should also look longer term at a EC135 replacement and also developing a AAR capability, using date from the 707 configuration due to the similarities in fuselage and plumbing.

I think this shows the core strength of the British Army, the men and women who serve and seem to be able to get the job done even with kit that isn't what it could be. Well done to them all.

Can anyone help here. Just watching a video of a parade in Brisbane and there was a M113 variant that was basically a "Pick Up", with a flat bed on the rear half of the chassis. Is this a custom job or were a number converted to this configuration?

Mixed feeling if the T-26 wins as the Australian version will probably ne better than the one the RN eventually operates.

But the public want spending on the NHS and Schools and don't give a damn about defence, even when body bags are being unloaded at Brize. Sure the MoD will be accused of cocking something up and causing the deaths and an officer or two will be hung out to dry but nothing will change. If we want to p...

As I mentioned above, the MDP should now stand for Media Disinformation Programme, as that is what it will come down to in all likelihood. I doubt any programmes will be cancelled, but numbers will be reduced and the timescales will increase. I also doubt any of the programmes like the WCSP will be ...

This is why I hate politics. Logic and common sense are not requirements to be an MP, nor is any knowledge of that your department actually does if you become a minister. I am getting a nasty feeling that the MDP will be worse than the 2010 SDSR but will be far better managed when it comes to briefi...

Does anyone have details on the costs of planes they think could be in the running? How does the Gripen compare to the F/A-18E/F? I am pretty sure the Rafale and Eurofighter are far more expensive as new builds, and I cannot see the F-35 being part of the competition. Are there any other options? A ...

Wouldn't suggest leaving them in distress, the UK foreign office has a big overseas stability fund, use that to develop local forces capable of counter narcotics tasks, and run that with some mentoring from the RN. If there are some auxiliaries available, I'll suggest they are better tasked flying ...

The Gripen would still be a good fit for the Swiss Air Force and one of the lowest risk options except for the egg on the face of a number of Politicians.

The RNs going to have to be careful with ships names if they are going to start painting logos on the ships!

The principle risk for T31 is time. Ron's explainer paints the broad picture; and then the above colours it in. - I agree that time is the principle risk - in exploratory and iterative discussions this surely has, by now, become clear and therefore who ever kicked out or dropped is not the main thi...

Ron5 wrote:

Lord Jim wrote:I wonder if you could have a glide kit fitted to VL-ASROC as a way of extending its range?

It's been offered by manufacturer with no takers.

So it would seem users believe that ASROC as it stands plus aviation assets cover the bases.

Given how little time the T-45s are spending at sea or at least were, I would have thought the programme would be classed as URGENT.

I wonder if you could have a glide kit fitted to VL-ASROC as a way of extending its range?

I read in the media today that the first T-45 won't go into refit to solve the engine issues until 2020 and it will take 8 months per ship. Is this what other people have heard?

Right been trying to catch up with the conversation here and there are a number of opinions that seem to oppose one another. I will try to keep this focused on Ajax but I will deviate so heads up in advance. One of the key arguments I tried to make a while back was that the British Army, with its cu...