UK Defence Forum

In one of the QE TV episodes, they show the ship & escort going silent when passing a Russian warship and using flags and lights to communicate.

The TOR-1M has a target tracking radar and provides command guidance to the missile. (A similar arrangement to SeaWolf.)

The target tracking radar will illuminate the target, and it's likely that reflections from the target are what was picked up by whatever monitoring systems were used by the USA. To state the very obvious, a 737 does not have a low radar cross-section. The reflections from the targeting radar probably lit up the EM spectrum for miles around.

The modern Sea Ceptor and Sea Viper systems do not rely upon target tracking radars. The emissions (and reflections) from their surveillance radars are much harder to track, especially when put it to anti-surveillance mode.

Aethulwulf wrote:The emissions (and reflections) from their surveillance radars are much harder to track, especially when put it to anti-surveillance mode.

Say what?

Ron5 wrote:

Aethulwulf wrote:The emissions (and reflections) from their surveillance radars are much harder to track, especially when put it to anti-surveillance mode.

Say what?

Sorry, meant low emission mode.

Aethulwulf wrote: it's likely that reflections from the target are what was picked up by whatever monitoring systems were used by the USA

The capabilities are v wide. Just go back to the 'dark days' of the Congo, when the UN Gen. Sec's DC6 was shot down by a rogue Fouga
- the conversations between the Fouga and ground were picked up by the US listening station on Cyprus... but of course never put on record as there was no cause to promote (by making what was said, between whom, known beyond the Intel circles)

While that may be true for the DD/FF and submarine fleets QNLZ & POW don't possess any onboard EW equipment and must rely on their escorts or aircraft

Lord Jim wrote:I was under the impression most RN platforms already had quite a good passive detection capability. What we could use is a low probability of Intercept radar capability to allow vessels to scan their area without giving away their exact position. This is what the F-22 is capable of, so it should be possible to transfer the capability to sea and land systems.

ArmChairCivvy wrote:were picked up by the US listening station on Cyprus... but of course never put on record

Say what? part deaux

There are other means than the latest and greatest... of course, SIGINT does not exclude any of them with its broad definition

Was he not the MEO on Daring? Bloody hell an engine room below decks type running a carrier, talk about a career change.

Yeah... that's an interesting step up

A bit choppy today...

SKB wrote:

Certainly did, had been off from early Monday morning as my Son brought 4 of his shipmates home to ours so they could shower! They then went off to watch 1917 at the cinemas, got a couple of trips to the local 'spoons and bowling alley in before being told they could not sleep on PWLS as power still out, so my Missus said they could bunker down in our lounge so our Son and 3 other matelots stayed at ours overnight.

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Very impressive comparison of a 1000t 80m corvette, compared with 70000t QE CV.

The A69-class is a typical of corvettes in 1980s.

Nowadays, a typical corvette is about 2000-3000t large, such as Damen Sigma class (90-105m long) and Naval Gowind2500 class. River B2 also resides in this regime, however lightly armed, as she uses most of her "float" to make herself more sea-worthy and bulky = "specialized" OPV.

A River B2 flying the flag, backed up by QLNZ CVTF, is the near future RN appearance of power against, say, Argentina, for example.

(@HMSQNLZ) 15th January 2019

It is indeed apt there is no room to extend this board.

Whilst we look back to honour and learn lessons, we look forward to providing a leading contribution to a resolute force for peace in an uncertain world.

@NATO

PhillyJ have you heard any rumours about PWLS being sold to the Indian navy? I heard there was a contingent onboard recently and they were asking all sorts of questions. I wonder if they might be trying to build their own as well.

The QNLZ design was proposed (not sure if formally or informally) for the Indian requirement for their next carrier back in August or thereabouts, IIRC. Would they be more interested in the CATOBAR design or the STOVL varsion (I confess I've lost track of the Indian procurement process)?

Aye I wouldn't put it past the government lining up pwls sale to the Indian navy ,with their top to toe review and some in government and army airforce top brass disliking the carriers .

For arguments sake what aircraft does India have to operate off a stovl carrier ? we could go into the costs of conversion to catobar for either of these ships and this might vary as well depending the ship which would likely deter any buyers .lol

What's not to say India go for f35b if our government gives pwls away as usual for a few million ,saves them billions on building a new one and plenty of cash otherwise spent building and developing a carrier to buy the f35b to equip their new bargain carrier ,thanks UK gov is there anything else you giving away?

I think its politically impossible, even if it were desirable to HMG (which I doubt very much is), to sell one of the carriers now

The defence minister is a cavalry man. Remember John Nott anyone? Plus Dominic Cummings is on record saying they are a waste of money.
The only positive is that given the Brexit pomp from the Gov, it’s highly unlikely there will be defence cuts post Brexit.