Oh I was sure we were getting 8 squadrons now? You do realise that an F-35, in any flavour, is x12 more capable than anything in existence. So each squadron will only need 2 aircraft. Problem solved. :roll: And when are we getting 4sqns??? There's only 2 budgeted for so far into the late 2020s if th...

This whole upgrade plan has a long and sorry tale of confusion, delay, procrastination all made worse due to lack of cash (or cash wasted on other projects). I guess the MOD determined we don't need tanks anymore after 10+ years in Afghan. So our 400+ tanks were effectively mothballed and reduced to...

The 4 support boats for the carriers were from one manufacturer. However it was suggested that ones for PoW will come from the recent order for up to 38 working boats. Why 2 different types or was the first order an interim so as to have boats ready for QE?

Wonderful video which I could watch again and again
How much are they selling Goliath for, my wife is looking for some garden ornaments and I have had enough of garden gnomes
queue pics of garden gnomes since we aren't building aircraft carriers anymore...

HMS Ocean certainly looks fully loaded, but I think they need to move some of the stores and helos about to get a more even keel before heading into the Atlantic

The hall appears more than large enough to accommodate what ever the navy's requirement for Dreadnought are. Very large hall indeed. It would be wonderful to know this picture is of Boats 8, 9 and 10...... :o Meanwhile, HMS Astute returns to the fleet after first refit. No mention of what works wer...

The UN, as currently constructed, after WW2 was based upon the victors - USA, UK, Russia, China and France. To the victors go the spoils so we all agreed that each had a power of veto in the Security Council comprised of the 5 Permanent Members and 10 elected members who serve a 2 year term. After 7...

Don't be greedy now As we enjoy this historic moment we have watched and waited for through all the ups & downs & delays, the stark reality is this may be the last time the UK ever builds an aircraft carrier... :( Assuming the RN squeezes 50 years of service out of these 2 ships; only using...

Very curious to see what, if any, part the Type 45 plays in the incoming events. https://navaltoday.com/2017/08/24/us-6t ... thern-sea/ Just worth a note from that news item As announced last year by the U.S. Naval Forces Europe commander, Admiral Michelle Howard, the U.S. 6th Fleet will be staging...

I like this one in the Frigate version, how much for 10 please?
At 45secs in shows an emergency propulsion feature, do any RN ships have this today, seems novel?

Another fantastic day for the ACA, RN and the country. After following this site and the great mp.net with all the many contributors over the last few years. Can't help thinking that the build process of PoW, after the political delays and cost increases as a result for QE, shows what can be done. W...

Is the sale confirmed for £80m? The last refit only completed in 2014 and that cost £65m. What bits are likely to be removed before handover? Would we give them Artisan? What about the slippery paint job? Sensors and processing systems: Type 997 Artisan 3D Radar 1008, 2 x Radar 1007 Armament: 4 × 30...

Aethulwulf wrote:UK orders 20 more aircraft carriers...

I am fully expecting S K B to provide the detailed block building updates for each one as they proceed..

sea_eagle wrote: Suggestions that an additional 20m Block was added between the 2 towers? There is no extra block. Or blocks. PoW is exactly the same length as QE. Watch the skid video again for proof. SKB, always great posts. It was just a day dream that maybe one of the yards had the original des...

dmereifield wrote:I know is only the mail, but the article below suggests that HMS PoW will be 3000t heavier than HMS QE....presumably, this is as a result iof the amphib mods, whatever they are....

Suggestions that an additional 20m Block was added between the 2 towers?

If this were to happen, in order to make use of the two QE class carriers in strike role the UK would probably also need 6 Sqn of F35bs, more Merlin HM2s and Crowsnest, and a total of ~24 FF/DD escorts. Of course any decision to build 2 LPH would probably also have to be linked to a policy revertin...

Here's a question to think about while we wait for PoW's naming and float out. How would you IMPROVE the QE class in future upgrades and refits? Keep it reasonable. No "third island" or "nuclear reactor" type answers allowed! At the cheaper end I want to this: with the roll on-r...

Good article on F-35B and build up of capability for QEC https://www.aerosociety.com/news/uk-f-3 ... ch-to-qec/ Posting this excellent link from Timmymagic which is well worth a read, in case anyone missed it, goes a long to explaining why we don't have any planes on the Carrier just now (even thou...

So I guess the treasury gets quite a kickback from this program. I always thought the economics of the Tier1 partnership were hugely understated by the Govt/MoD. Assuming the USA go ahead with the planned numbers (USAF: 1623 F35A, USN: 480 F-35C, USMC: 340 F-35B) that is a total buy of 2443 (mind b...

Why do the USN put all their air assets on deck, is this just for show or is there another reason? Maybe to free up hangar space for the country dancing events?

It would be better if they reveal that they will build few additional Type 26 frigates or when ( and wich one ) anti-ship/land-attack/ASROC missiles will arm these future frigates... Well we know there is no money left for defence spending, however I always thought the better solution was to stick ...

dmereifield wrote:38 for $411million? Is that correct? That sounds ridiculously cheap.....

Yes at that price I'll take a couple...the original budget was $3bn What happens to the remaining 16 aircraft from the original 67 purchased?

MRCA wrote:Not quite step by step but it will give you an idea of what they will do on a c130 cwb replacement program

Smokey wrote:1x Allen key, some elbow grease and a BFO hoist

Right got that thanks both, think I am good to go, just need to find a C-130 which needs a new CWB

The problem with facts is that one needs to have a basic level of understanding (about the topic area, whatever it happens to be) to be able to use them. Here's another view from Wing Commander Beck who does know the facts to contradict The Times defence journo's https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/f-3...

Does anyone have a dummies guide (diagram/pics)to changing a centre wing box on a C-130J? How much of the aircraft do they have to take apart to replace it? Anyone know how long it is planned to take to refit all of them?