UK Defence Forum

Ron5 wrote:Excellent news, thanks for posting Bob. Hopefully a first flight before too long.

Indeed and it gives us insight into BAe's involvement in the project which is quite significant, and Boeings expertise also.

Wonder if the UK will get a few of these to experiment with.

High speed trials...

Looks the business.

Has shed quite a few pounds https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... ingray.JPG
compared to the tanker

I expect when the defence review is published theyll make public who’s been already down selected for flying demonstrators on the program

Some still pictures from above taxi test...

Can't wait to see these launching from PoW. There's a small British EMCAT that was developed by GE (I think) that would do the trick nicely.

Ron5 wrote:GE (I think)

Converteam (Pre GE) with EMKIT, working towards EMCAT.

Phil R

Phil R wrote:Converteam (Pre GE) with EMKIT, working towards EMCAT.

I thought this program had died after we decided on F35B version.

bobp wrote:I thought this program had died after we decided on F35B version.

Died almost 20 years ago....Wouldn't be a surprise if a fair number of the team had actually retired by now..

Timmymagic wrote:Died almost 20 years ago

2013 transitioned to MV ALIM, great potential, no buyers.... yet.

Phil R

Not quite that old ..

https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2014/05/ ... ned-emcat/

Phil R wrote:2013 transitioned to MV ALIM, great potential, no buyers.... yet.

So this could still be a possible if it could potentially launch a Predator sized UAV.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... s-RAF.html

Spirit AeroSystems, in Belfast, has been selected to lead Team Mosquito in the next phase of the project.

The team will further develop the RAF's Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft (LANCA) concept, with a full-scale vehicle flight-test programme expected by the end of 2023.

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said: 'This is fantastic news and underlines the distinct strengths in Northern Ireland's economy, through its advanced engineering and manufacturing capabilities.

'This ground-breaking project will involve significant investment which will not only support local employment, but also reinforce Northern Ireland's contribution to the security of our nation.'

Pity there's not some old Shorts fighter name that they could recycle for this, though I think you'd need to go back to the biplane era

Valiant or victor after the V tailplane, would prefer Vulcan though

The turn down on the ends of the wings kind of remind me of the TSR2 or the geek in me says klingon bird of pray

SD67 wrote:Pity there's not some old Shorts fighter name that they could recycle for this, though I think you'd need to go back to the biplane era

Silver streak it is...

Or maybe Sunderland would be more popular with the admirals

May be Project Mosquito could produce a Gnat (2),
another Lightweight Affordable (Novel) Combat Aircraft. A flying prototype could be called Midge

Gnat was also novel in that it went 'critical' easily... well before fly-by-wire had been invented, to correct for, in time

SW1 wrote:

SD67 wrote:Pity there's not some old Shorts fighter name that they could recycle for this, though I think you'd need to go back to the biplane era

Silver streak it is...

It had better have a longer production run!

This article suggests it will be armed and not just electronic warfare
https://www.defensenews.com/global/euro ... bat-drone/

Boeing loyal wingman flies for the first time yesterday. Nicely timed to coincide with UKDJ's article on EMCATs.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-02/ ... g/13207388

More here...

Would be happier if they returned to "Short Brothers"... but still excellent news for aerospace in Belfast!

"Spirit Belfast is delighted to lead the delivery of a national programme enabling the development of cutting-edge technologies while maintaining critical skills in the UK," said Scott McLarty, Senior Vice-President of Spirit AeroSystems, Airbus Programs. "Supporting the MOD's strategic objectives on pace, affordability and operational capacity, Team MOSQUITO will help drive collaborative innovation and competitive advantage. We are excited to develop this relationship with a view to contributing to a more sustainable industrial base for UK defence."

https://www.spiritaero.com/pages/releas ... of-defence

Photoshop by the look of it. Unfortunately.