Search found 1061 matches

by Jensy
29 Feb 2024, 01:00
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion
Replies: 5986
Views: 1501036
United Kingdom

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...
by Jensy
29 Feb 2024, 00:17
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2143397
United Kingdom

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...
by Jensy
28 Feb 2024, 14:07
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2143397
United Kingdom

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 ...
by Jensy
27 Feb 2024, 23:14
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
Replies: 479
Views: 49498
United Kingdom

Re: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)

SW1 wrote: 27 Feb 2024, 16:41 Well they did start trying to replace Puma in about 1990….
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.
by Jensy
26 Feb 2024, 23:58
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Mine countermeasures and Hydrographic capability (MHC) (MHPC)
Replies: 957
Views: 312012
United Kingdom

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.

Image

Wonder how much life we could have gotten from them if the money (and crew) was there.
by Jensy
26 Feb 2024, 16:14
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
Replies: 479
Views: 49498
United Kingdom

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...
by Jensy
26 Feb 2024, 16:09
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
Replies: 479
Views: 49498
United Kingdom

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...
by Jensy
26 Feb 2024, 14:54
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
Replies: 479
Views: 49498
United Kingdom

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...
by Jensy
26 Feb 2024, 14:47
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
Replies: 479
Views: 49498
United Kingdom

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...
by Jensy
25 Feb 2024, 23:19
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
Replies: 479
Views: 49498
United Kingdom

Re: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)

Ron5 wrote: 24 Feb 2024, 13:37
Jensy wrote: 23 Feb 2024, 11:16 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.
by Jensy
23 Feb 2024, 11:16
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: New Medium Helicopter [NMH] - (RAF & AAC)
Replies: 479
Views: 49498
United Kingdom

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...
by Jensy
21 Feb 2024, 22:38
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1465349
United Kingdom

Re: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]

RichardIC wrote: 21 Feb 2024, 16:21 Ok, so slightly larger above-deck footprint but nothing like the mass above or below deck.
I see, four years later, you're still not able to accept when you're incorrect...
by Jensy
21 Feb 2024, 14:38
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1465349
United Kingdom

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...
by Jensy
21 Feb 2024, 00:06
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1465349
United Kingdom

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 ...
by Jensy
18 Feb 2024, 02:08
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19150
Views: 7058819
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Fascinating warship discussion here chaps...
by Jensy
17 Feb 2024, 18:31
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Boeing E-7 Wedgetail (RAF)
Replies: 595
Views: 182247
United Kingdom

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...
by Jensy
16 Feb 2024, 23:56
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Boeing E-7 Wedgetail (RAF)
Replies: 595
Views: 182247
United Kingdom

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...
by Jensy
14 Feb 2024, 02:47
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Boeing E-7 Wedgetail (RAF)
Replies: 595
Views: 182247
United Kingdom

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...
by Jensy
07 Feb 2024, 21:23
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)
Replies: 6067
Views: 1725108
United Kingdom

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...
by Jensy
07 Feb 2024, 21:13
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Future UK Combat Aircraft (Project Tempest)
Replies: 4067
Views: 951615
United Kingdom

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...
by Jensy
07 Feb 2024, 18:42
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Future UK Combat Aircraft (Project Tempest)
Replies: 4067
Views: 951615
United Kingdom

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...
by Jensy
07 Feb 2024, 14:53
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Future UK Combat Aircraft (Project Tempest)
Replies: 4067
Views: 951615
United Kingdom

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...
by Jensy
03 Feb 2024, 23:17
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15445
Views: 4410699
United Kingdom

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...
by Jensy
17 Jan 2024, 14:01
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)
Replies: 2804
Views: 764325
United Kingdom

Re: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)

SW1 wrote: 17 Jan 2024, 13:51 Warton are also assembling a couple tempest development test aircraft
Has it been officially stated that there's more than one Tempest demonstrator planned?

Not doubting and cearly sensible considering the history of aircraft development. Just haven't seen a reference before.
by Jensy
16 Jan 2024, 17:24
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)
Replies: 2804
Views: 764325
United Kingdom

Re: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)

I am not optimistic about KSA placing a follow on order unless price is no barrier. Same thing for another RAF order. Why pay for 4G Typhoon when 5G F-35 is cheaper, especially if F-35A. The peace dividend may be a thing of the past for the UK but that does not mean it is OK to spend extra funding ...