Search found 1088 matches
- 29 Feb 2024, 18:01
- Forum: Royal Navy
- Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
- Replies: 15455
- Views: 4470669
Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
I know its the Daily Mail but... https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13138221/Britains-cash-strapped-Navy-forced-sell-aircraft-carrier-HMS-Prince-Wales.html Last night, Mr Wallace said: 'For the last 20 years the UK's Armed Forces have not been able to deliver to Nato what they have claimed. M...
- 29 Feb 2024, 14:59
- Forum: Joint Service
- Topic: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
- Replies: 480
- Views: 58565
Re: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
PS Thatcher was correct, Westlands should have gone to Sikorsky and Puma should have stayed French. Can blame the perfidious dog murderer, Heseltine for that.... Not to delve too deeply into alt-history, but feel Sikorsky would have been a far better long-time partner for Westland. Lots of success ...
- 29 Feb 2024, 01:00
- Forum: Royal Navy
- Topic: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion
- Replies: 6181
- Views: 1874513
Re: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion
Then I don't see any need for modification. You won't be able to modify it any further than 1 Merlin, no need for the hanger to hold UAV's when they have their own storage area and 2 wildcats in the hanger should be more than suffice for the operations this platform undertakes. Just for clarity. My...
- 29 Feb 2024, 00:17
- Forum: Royal Navy
- Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
- Replies: 8501
- Views: 2204180
Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Given the low number of escorts available it’s extremely difficult to see how this could be justified. On the other hand if a meaningful increase in funding actually transpired….. https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/1762753401803215182 Seems a great deal more valuable a contribution than floatin...
- 28 Feb 2024, 14:07
- Forum: Royal Navy
- Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
- Replies: 8501
- Views: 2204180
Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
There may well be a plug amidship to lengthen the hangar, and I wish I could remember where I read it, but I’m pretty sure there’s a plug in the B position too. I’m guessing it has to do with the depth of the VLS (Mk41, even in tactical configuration, is deeper than the CAMM mushrooms)… however, I ...
- 27 Feb 2024, 23:14
- Forum: Joint Service
- Topic: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
- Replies: 480
- Views: 58565
Re: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
Even earlier! AST.404, the combined Wessex and Puma replacement goes back to the early 80s.
What's amusing is that Black Hawk, one of the original contenders (then to be built by Short Brothers), is still in the running for NMH.
- 26 Feb 2024, 23:58
- Forum: Royal Navy
- Topic: Mine countermeasures and Hydrographic capability (MHC) (MHPC)
- Replies: 959
- Views: 329780
Re: Mine countermeasures and Hydrographic capability (MHC) (MHPC)
Anyone know what the Echo Class crane could handle? Appreciate the A-frame probably isn't up to the task.
Wonder how much life we could have gotten from them if the money (and crew) was there.
Wonder how much life we could have gotten from them if the money (and crew) was there.
- 26 Feb 2024, 16:14
- Forum: Joint Service
- Topic: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
- Replies: 480
- Views: 58565
Re: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
With current polls at 48% Labour, 24% Conservative with predictions of majorities of 280+. Building a couple of dozen helicopters at Broughton will swing the election? Anyway won't jobs be safe in Broughton if they bring Peter Mandelson's Machine back on line. https://youtu.be/D3kLl9atj0Y?feature=s...
- 26 Feb 2024, 16:09
- Forum: Joint Service
- Topic: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
- Replies: 480
- Views: 58565
Re: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
Are we going to have a sweepstake..... I'm still sticking with Leonardo's sacred Wasteland site will be secured at any cost.... I've added a (somewhat lighthearted) poll! Have fun. :D P.S: Open to any obscure or mad suggestions people might like to add. add FARA 😂 Ah, 'Comanche 2: The Next Generati...
- 26 Feb 2024, 14:54
- Forum: Joint Service
- Topic: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
- Replies: 480
- Views: 58565
Re: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
Are we going to have a sweepstake..... I'm still sticking with Leonardo's sacred Wasteland site will be secured at any cost.... I've added a (somewhat lighthearted) poll! Have fun. :D P.S: Open to any obscure or mad suggestions people might like to add. P.P.S: I've somehow managed to reset the poll...
- 26 Feb 2024, 14:47
- Forum: Joint Service
- Topic: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
- Replies: 480
- Views: 58565
Re: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
Ignoring the platforms, and focusing purely on politics, my money's on Airbus. Should the programme go ahead before the election. Why do you think that? Alyn and Deeside is a far more marginal constituency than Yeovil. It's had a Labour MP since it was created in 1983. Even if things got a bit dice...
- 25 Feb 2024, 23:19
- Forum: Joint Service
- Topic: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
- Replies: 480
- Views: 58565
- 23 Feb 2024, 11:16
- Forum: Joint Service
- Topic: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
- Replies: 480
- Views: 58565
Re: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
Ignoring the platforms, and focusing purely on politics, my money's on Airbus. Should the programme go ahead before the election. One would hope Leonardo's industrial promises aren't taken seriously anymore by the MoD. Not to mention they have RN PROTEUS (the programme not the ship) to keep them bus...
- 21 Feb 2024, 22:38
- Forum: Royal Navy
- Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
- Replies: 5714
- Views: 1498751
- 21 Feb 2024, 14:38
- Forum: Royal Navy
- Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
- Replies: 5714
- Views: 1498751
Re: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
A salient point on the 57mm Bofors. Was met with disbelief some years ago, when I pointed out that its turret is larger overall than the BAE MK 45 127mm. Doesn't give dimensions, but according to BAE's datasheet the Mk 45 above-and-below deck weight in nearly 60k kg without ammunition. For the Mk 1...
- 21 Feb 2024, 00:06
- Forum: Royal Navy
- Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
- Replies: 5714
- Views: 1498751
Re: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
By the way, the Bofors 57mm is a surprisingly large system. I suspect there would be little or no savings in space over a Mk 8. A salient point on the 57mm Bofors. Was met with disbelief some years ago, when I pointed out that its turret is larger overall than the BAE MK 45 127mm. If we were flush ...
- 18 Feb 2024, 02:08
- Forum: Royal Navy
- Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
- Replies: 19404
- Views: 9752857
Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Fascinating warship discussion here chaps...
- 17 Feb 2024, 18:31
- Forum: Royal Air Force
- Topic: Boeing E-7 Wedgetail (RAF)
- Replies: 595
- Views: 189325
Re: Boeing E-7 Wedgetail (RAF)
Presumably this is more on whatever the USAF have specified and how that contrasts to those for UK/AUS/RoK/TK. The later three of which haven't specifically been mentioned in any of these stories. Not exactly a perfect example but there are 767s which have been modified to be tankers but differ wild...
- 16 Feb 2024, 23:56
- Forum: Royal Air Force
- Topic: Boeing E-7 Wedgetail (RAF)
- Replies: 595
- Views: 189325
Re: Boeing E-7 Wedgetail (RAF)
Following on from what I posted above: https://www.defensenews.com/air/2024/02/15/tricky-e-7-adaptations-complicate-us-air-force-boeing-negotiations/ “We’re having a hard time with [the E-7 program], getting price agreement with Boeing,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told reporters in a roundtab...
- 14 Feb 2024, 02:47
- Forum: Royal Air Force
- Topic: Boeing E-7 Wedgetail (RAF)
- Replies: 595
- Views: 189325
Re: Boeing E-7 Wedgetail (RAF)
Some interesting context for both our E-7 purchase and the USAF's procurement of the 'same' platform: Service officials thought their requirements were close to the E-7s that the U.K. has already begun procuring from Boeing, [USAF acquisition chief, Andrew] Hunter told reporters here. “Those discuss...
- 07 Feb 2024, 21:23
- Forum: Joint Service
- Topic: F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)
- Replies: 6102
- Views: 1774605
Re: F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)
We'd need at least one other base and hundreds of people for this fleet alone to hit 138. Just out of sheer curiosity, if there were to be enough 'extra' F35's to justify it, which previous but currently non-active airfield is still close enough to being operational to be worth reactivating? Any of...
- 07 Feb 2024, 21:13
- Forum: Royal Air Force
- Topic: Future UK Combat Aircraft (Project Tempest)
- Replies: 4067
- Views: 999769
Re: Future UK Combat Aircraft (Project Tempest)
I would see it nearly exactly the opposite way round. The istar aircraft manned the strike ones not. Yes for persistence uavs can have a useful role but having specialist operators on station and controlling uavs within line of sight of the airborne istar aircraft has benefits. Having single use un...
- 07 Feb 2024, 18:42
- Forum: Royal Air Force
- Topic: Future UK Combat Aircraft (Project Tempest)
- Replies: 4067
- Views: 999769
Re: Future UK Combat Aircraft (Project Tempest)
Any production loyal wingman will not be cheap, will not be soon and will not be as capable as most folks think. Not clear they're needed anyway. There seems to be a desperation to push UAVs/RPASs into as many roles as possible. With the assumption being that because say an MQ-4C or MQ-9B excells i...
- 07 Feb 2024, 14:53
- Forum: Royal Air Force
- Topic: Future UK Combat Aircraft (Project Tempest)
- Replies: 4067
- Views: 999769
Re: Future UK Combat Aircraft (Project Tempest)
Any production loyal wingman will not be cheap, will not be soon and will not be as capable as most folks think. Not clear they're needed anyway. There seems to be a desperation to push UAVs/RPASs into as many roles as possible. With the assumption being that because say an MQ-4C or MQ-9B excells i...
- 03 Feb 2024, 23:17
- Forum: Royal Navy
- Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
- Replies: 15455
- Views: 4470669
Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
The Gerald Ford Class has not exactly been without its in service hiccups. See also India's first home built carrier. In truth, for a country that hasn't laid down fleet carriers in the best part of century, we could be doing a lot worse. We're clearly becoming very accustomed to fixing the prop sha...