Boeing P-8A Poseidon (MRA Mk.1) (RAF)

[Ron5]

Need another 9!

At £100mn an a/c, then another 9 would be approx 2 T31s... what would have more impact in the North Atlantic or Far East for that matter...

P-8's

[Dahedd]

Well pre Covid certainly my mate that's at Kinloss working on them was still saying they were hoping to get another 3, so 12 in total.

Fingers crossed

[Scimitar54]

And arms and legs, so another 9.

[Lord Jim]

Or we could do with a cheaper MPA platform to cover all but ASW duties and maybe add a respectable Air Sea Rescue capability, as a C2 platform or maybe with a more active role such as air drop equipment etc. There are plenty of these on the market of we could re role the C-130Js to mimic the USCGs planes though not with as much specialised equipment.

[serge750]

Would a few airbus C295mpa fit the role ?

Used for low level short range coastal patrol to keep an eyeball on shipping with a rescue ability, how many could be bought for the price of say 3 x p8's ? then use the P 8's for long range missions,

[SW1]

Nimrod supported this type of tasking until its last day in service, so not sure what the problem is.

[Repulse]

An alternative would be to buy (or swap) some extra Protector UAVs with a maritime config (a.k.a. Sea Guardians).

https://www.flightglobal.com/military-u ... 84.article

Would say a mix of maritime and standard “land strike” Protectors would be a no brainer; the former able to be used not only in UK waters but globally (including adding to the layered defence of the CSG).

[serge750]

Isn't that the same UAV that our Australian friends are going to buy for their needs along with the P8?

I seem to remember reading somewhere that we in the UK were thinking about something similar, would think we need something more than just 9 x P8's especially if a land surveillance role maybe on the cards as well….

[Repulse]

Isn't that the same UAV that our Australian friends are going to buy for their needs along with the P8?

I seem to remember reading somewhere that we in the UK were thinking about something similar, would think we need something more than just 9 x P8's especially if a land surveillance role maybe on the cards as well….

Australia is planning to acquire seven MQ-4C Triton.

[SKB]

Click to enlarge:

^ Composite Photoshop image.
(@NavyLookout) 16th August 2020

English Channel article: https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/callin ... h-channel/

[jonas]

Australia is planning to acquire seven MQ-4C Triton.[/quote]

Well unless the US DOD budget paper for Fiscal year 2021 in regards to MQ-4C has been rescinded, then this could be a problem.

https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/us-to ... on-drones/

[The Armchair Soldier]

Click to enlarge:

(@NavyLookout) 16th August 2020

English Channel article: https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/callin ... h-channel/

It’s a Photoshop but a good one nonetheless.

[Ron5]

@SKB

FYI the "click to enlarge" never seems to work for me.

[SKB]

FYI the "click to enlarge" never seems to work for me.

Try reloading the page.

[Ron5]

FYI the "click to enlarge" never seems to work for me.

Try reloading the page.

That did the trick!!

[SD67]

An alternative would be to buy (or swap) some extra Protector UAVs with a maritime config (a.k.a. Sea Guardians).

https://www.flightglobal.com/military-u ... 84.article

Would say a mix of maritime and standard “land strike” Protectors would be a no brainer; the former able to be used not only in UK waters but globally (including adding to the layered defence of the CSG).

Surely it wouldn’t even need to be extra Protectors, what will Protector be doing short of another A’stan, I’d have thought this would be a normal tasking

[bobp]

New Simulator on its way

[jonas]

It arrives :-

https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/gi ... simulator/

[Timmymagic]

Poseidon 3 and 4...looking not far off completion..

[SKB]

[The Armchair Soldier]

The first RAF P-8 touching down at RAF Lossiemouth today:



Also:

RAF Lossiemouth Welcomes Two More P-8A Poseidon Aircraft

RAF Lossiemouth has welcomed a further two P-8A Poseidon aircraft, following a landmark arrival at the base earlier this week.

Extensive renovations costing more than £400m have included new, strengthened runways – on which the maritime patrol model landed for the first time on Tuesday.

Read More: https://www.forces.net/news/raf-lossiem ... n-aircraft

[ArmChairCivvy]

This "The nose faring has been extended slightly to accommodate the APS-137D(V)5 synthetic aperture radar for both coastal and overland surveillance (Not UK versions)" would seem to imply that any overland capability extensions would come with extra airframes.
http://www.b737.org.uk/mma.htm

I tried to verify the concerns of the early operators of the NGs with much improved bypass engines, namely that the ground clearance was so much less than on earlier models that the use of some airfields could become not feasible
- that clearance figure seems to be hard to find? http://www.b737.org.uk/techspecsngs.htm#side
- but could explain the need for runway improvements

[Lord Jim]

So is the APS-137D(V)5 unique to USN aircraft or is it something that other nations and/or the UK have decided they do not want?

[SW1]

I tried to verify the concerns of the early operators of the NGs with much improved bypass engines, namely that the ground clearance was so much less than on earlier models that the use of some airfields could become not feasible

That’s why you have those flattened lower surface on the NG nacelles and is at the root of all evils on the current incarnation.

[ArmChairCivvy]

- that clearance figure seems to be hard to find? http://www.b737.org.uk/techspecsngs.htm#side

How do you read the two 'height' figures given and their small difference? Is that the max (allowable) impact from touching the runway on landing? I.e. ground clearance, written 'in code'?