An update on setting up the organisational structure of the GCAP entity https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/gcap-industry-partners-70-through-negotiations-bae-official-says/156682.article I like this bit : We are looking at setting up a single entity that is authorised to act on behalf of the thre...

IMHO, given that we are maybe 12 months away from all out war with Russia and/or Iran, we probably need more of everything, yesterday. If TLAM can be bolted to the deck of a T45 where Harpoon used to go, just do it. Bolt Brimstone and/or Starstreak to the deck of the River class. Hell, the USMC stil...

Interesting discussion. In Automotive the tier one suppliers usually have an obligation to keep the supply chain in being for x years after production of the transmission / braking system / distributor / whatever is finished - for ongoing warranty and spare parts support. It's a key part of the init...

I speculated on something like this way upthread. Germany donating to Ukraine "indirectly"

Absolutely

BTW

I've got a bridge in London to sell you...

Maybe the Army might adopt it some time this century. Isn't Ukraine using Brimstone, mounted to Jackal?

Ian Hall wrote: ↑19 Nov 2023, 22:08 Not quite sure if we've seen such an export success as is CAMM for many decades.

It seems to have hit a sweet spot in the market, like Hawk or CVRT

I'm not sure where to put this - but it sounds interesting https://soldiersystems.net/2024/01/20/sig-sauer-expands-operations-in-united-kingdom/ “SIG will benefit from AI’s extensive UK market expertise and manufacturing and logistical infrastructure to assist in the transition toward a fully indepe...

BAE Archer proposal includes re-establishing sovereign UK barrel production https://www.baesystems.com/en-uk/article/bae-systems-announces-team-for-the-uks-future-artillery-programme If done, would be the one and only thing in the system that's made in Britain. One more than Ajax. ( except Optronic...

As a former cost accountant I love nerding out with this stuff :-). Currently in production - Customer / activity / backlog : Qatar Assembly c10 Kuwait Fuselage c15 Currently Contracted - Program / activity / PO Qty : Quadriga Fuselage 38 Halcon 1 Fuselage 20 Total Legal Commitment = Assembly 10 + F...

Sounds to me that worst case scenario Warton is going to become a support, subassembly, and upgrade business between now and the early 2030s. There's 63 fuselages to provide Spain / Quadriga plus 40 ECR2 upgrades (and more for KSA?). Also bear in mind Tempest is a revenue generating project. Warton'...

IMHO we should order more Typhoons now, from a hot production line.
How to pay for them? If more funding is off the agenda, worst case I'd take it out of the Army. Hold off on AH64E for a few years, drop the SF Chinooks, make do with 620 Boxer. Just my take, will grab tin hat

OMG
Are we sure this is not a parody account?

Update :
Comment from 4 years ago, latest stance is "fully supportive"

Aah corrected, just me being cynical, thanks

Great news on Diego Garcia - handover would be madness in the current environment

SW1 wrote: ↑12 Jan 2024, 10:23 PS good to see those “short ranged” typhoons going a long way!

The announcement doesn't actually mention RAF Akrotiri - I reckon they flew from KSA. (but obviously noone's going to give that kind of detail )

Isn't the FCO in the process of giving away Diego Garcia?

The German industrial lobby is very powerful and may well have been making that case

FWIW I think the change of heart is the Houthis, and KSA's role in dealing with them, likely budged on by Israel as well

Bronk's analogy is seriously dodgy.

I'd put GCAP more in the category of the B29 - transformational and pioneering a whole range of new technologies.

First deliveries of Typhoon to both Qatar and Oman were made 5 years after contract signature. For KSA it should be quicker as they're a current user and the platform is well known to them

Loose bolts? Don't worry BAE Glasgow have some araldite available

Sshh don't tell the Treasury or they'll cancel Tempest...

I'm prepared to wager that the profit HMG and BAE make on a sale of say 72 would almost cover a small RAF purchase in 2030.

It will be interesting to see the size of the order. A quick google shows the Saudis currently operating 80 F15C/Ds with an average age of 37 years. It could be substantial, especially given the threat situation. Even 48 would lead nicely into GCAP, 8-12 per year from say 2025 plus support of German...

I'm pretty sure KSA still wants Typhoon (and Tempest for that matter). BAE are deeply embedded in the country industrially, economically. The Saudis have long memories. There's also, hate to say it, the small matter that the Dassault family are Jewish and the company was Israel's main supplier for m...

TBH I don't give a damn about Turkey

But we've been selling fighters to KSA since the 60s. And their enemy, the Houthi, are right now holding global trade to ransom

Stretch a T26-derived hull just enough to squeeze in another MT30, without going back to square one No such thing. Ships are built around their propulsion, there's no way adding another MT30 happens without going back to square 1. Thanks. I was wondering. The BAE design teams likely need something ...