Would it be possible to design some sort of trolley that the CB-90 could be moved into and then moved out of the dock into the vehicle decks. Again another idea for the replacement possibly.

If the Italians get the F-35 into service before us it will be a huge embarrassment for the UK considering how early we joined the project and so on.

IF the T-26 entered USN service is would look nothing like the RN version and probably be a mini Arleigh Burke in appearance with greater ASW and less AAW. It would also have the RN drooling as to what they would actually want as compared to what they got. For its size the RN is getting a cruiser wi...

Just how big a mission bay and what facilities would you need to operate CB-90s from a T-31e. They are a totally different kettle of fish from RIBs and a hell of a lot heavier. As for Sea Ceptor not being in the Mk41s that is unnecessary. 16 cells is more than enough for the mission profile, 8 self ...

I would rather other nations send troops and we give them the kit when it comes to Peacekeeping. This is what the Mastiff etc. was designed for and we won't be doing it again any time soon or at least I hope not. We need at least a decade to get our shit back together and re-equip with the right equ...

Very interesting. NATO really need to sort out its command structure as civilians and politicians (separate species in my book) are now far to involved in all aspects with the military given no flexibility even if the balloon goes up. In the 1980s once the NATO Council agreed that the relevant artic...

Osprey - Should the UK buy it? NO unless the Home Office by some for the Special Forces from its budget.

It is interesting to see how few civilian staff are now in the DE&S considering how large the DPA and DLO we in the 90s and 00s. Looking to cut civilians even further is going to require either deeper levels of contractorisation or the use of service personnel in current civilian posts. I am ple...

How does the price of the current Hawk being offered compare to the M-346? The Current Hawk 100 series are very good but is it too good and costly for the role of advanced trainer? As for light attack, that seems to have gone down the road of Turboprops with countries prepared to pay extra for Secon...

We should have given most of the Mine Protected Vehicles bought through UORs to the UN to issue to peacekeepers etc.

Five of those to go please.

In principal I also agree with Repulse but an efficient 4000t design would have sufficient room for all that is or even could be required for a vessel in this category and then some. In theory with the right design the T-31e could be the Meko for the 21st century, especially if the standard design i...

Government wants to run all departments like private business. In the 1990s it tried to use the same supply doctrine as supermarkets with a "Just in time", policy on spares etc.. Great idea when you have a stable demand and production lead time, but the military cannot work that way. The r...

The same goes by saying you only need a 2500t T-31 as that sized hull is sufficient to fit all the kit that is currently planned. Historically both France and Italy have built light frigates/patrol vessels that have a sparse fit as standard but can be readily up scaled in capability should the need ...

Politicians love sound bites, they like to talk about things like national pride and security but as with many things they simply are not willing to put up the funding. Everyone knows that the UK needs to raise more money to run the country but all politicians are unwilling to take the hard choices....

With finances as they are I can see the T-26 being limited to 6 and the T-31e now being built afterwards, but with an extra hull, slightly better capability resulting from a slight increase in budget. The aim to keep the ship yard(s) ticking over into the 2030s. One ship every 18 months with capacit...

Yet again another country that seems to be able to get its act together. I am beginning to think the Politicians should not be allowed anywhere near key areas like Defence and healthcare when it come to money. Fine let them come up with the policies but the implementation should be done by non-polit...

I keep forgetting which RAF bases the Army took over and when. Frenchie, I actually agree with you, I was trying to make the point that the UK can either go down the Heavy route or the Medium route but cannot afford do both. Even so to actually create balanced formations additional quantities of AFV...

We never allocated assets to deploy a division in Norway. This historically was the preserve of 3 Commando and ACE, the latter also aimed at supporting Denmark.

When it comes to the RAF the UK is in a much stronger position, coming to the end of a major recapitalisation of its fleet. There are still some major holes in its plans though. In terms of fast jets, and looking at the Typhoon fleet, the RAF's aspiration should be for sufficient planes, aircrew and...

The UK has to decide which road it wants to go down regarding its Army. Either it properly invests in the Ajax, Warrior and Challenger and goes for a heavy solution to its AFV fleet or it deletes the majority of these and purchases large numbers of MIVs and MRV(P)s, going down the medium route. It s...

A lot depends on where they are deploying to and what sized formation is going. It is going to be along time till we see and elective deployment above battalions sized battlegroups.

My uncle was one of the RAF pilots earmarked for the further testing of the TSR2 and never forgave the politicians for canning the programme.

Yep and initial Aajx and variants should go to Armoured and Armoured Infantry Units replacing CVR(T) and FV430 variants whilst a rethink is carried out on where the whole Ajax programme and the Army's AFV fleet renewal should be going.

I suppose if I was playing Devil's Advocate and looking at those options I would probably chop and change to create; MILITARY CUTS: 3 Commando Brigade and 16 Air Assault to be combined into one Brigade with 2 Royal Marine Commandos and two Airborne Battalions with supporting units. Army reconfigured...