UK Defence Forum

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/roya ... kazakhstan

Must be one of its more unusual trips.

topman wrote: unusual

Kazakhs being in a bear hug, while the dragon is also trying to pull them into an even deadlier "arms around you" are also getting close to Turkey (a bit more neutral influence, and can supply resources , like engineers), as there are historic ties: Kazakh language, also spelled Kazak is member of the Turkic language family

What is a "remote carrier" ??

Ron5 wrote:What is a "remote carrier" ??

Unmanned air vehicle/ loyal wing man/ remote carrier

https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-r ... rmany.html

A first flight-test approved launcher of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) from of a transport aircraft. This project is the result of a cooperation between Airbus as A400M integrator, Geradts GmbH for the launcher and SFL GmbH from Stuttgart for UAV integration and supported by DLR simulations. An agile design and development approach allowed for rapid prototyping and flight readiness in only 6 months.

Apparently the term "remote carrier" was coined by mbda to describe a drone that can go and deliver effects (eg bombs) at a distance. Not clear if they come home afterwards. If they do, presumably Predator is a remote carrier.

Ron5 wrote:Apparently the term "remote carrier" was coined by mbda to

I wonder if it is some kind of 'direct translation' as it really does not make any sense.

https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-r ... paign.html


The campaign took place in day and night conditions over the west coast of France at between 1,000 ft and 10,000 ft and flight speeds as low as 105 knots. During those flights, a total of 81 wet contacts and transfers of 6.5 tonnes of fuel were achieved, which included simultaneous refuelling of two helicopters for the first time. The tests confirmed the positive results of the dry and wet contact operations conducted in 2019 and 2020.

That vid
"#Airbus has developed a launcher to release unmanned air vehicles (#UAV) from the belly of an #A400M"
reminded me of the project to launch ICBMs from JumboJets, in a similar way

I didn't know Europe was so flush with transport capacity they can use a meaningful portion of the fleet in this way

France and Germany both have 50 odd each on order. With 34 in German service

We really could do with utilising the AAR option of at least a few of our A400, if only for the Rotary fleet. Having one in the Falklands to support the Typhoons would be useful as well rather than use a Voyager.

Lord Jim wrote:We really could do with utilising the AAR option of at least a few of our A400, if only for the Rotary fleet. Having one in the Falklands to support the Typhoons would be useful as well rather than use a Voyager.

I'd disagree, which of the helicopters are ready to aar right?
We've got a ton of stuff in use that is underfunded without piling more stuff on top of it.

topman wrote:I'd disagree, which of the helicopters are ready to aar right?

Latest Marine Merlins. Shown equipped with refueling probes when they entered service.

Ron5 wrote:Latest Marine Merlins. Shown equipped with refueling probes when they entered service.

They have the plumbing, but do not use the probes.

Ron5 wrote:

topman wrote:I'd disagree, which of the helicopters are ready to aar right?

Latest Marine Merlins. Shown equipped with refueling probes when they entered service.

Like I said, I wonder how many are ready right now.

And
... whatabout the 14 (down from 16) Chinook ERs , when they will enter service?

You will want to clear a number of the parachute operations as the French Air Force has before we get to worrying about aar capability.

A consideration in the Falklands will be fuel offload for a typhoon divert to the mainland. But you may need to have 2 a440m dwn there to tank on the tanker requirements and we don’t really have enough.

We could always increase the size of our A400 fleet by say six or eight. As for AAR for helos as pointed out the Merlin HC is plumbed for it as will the SF Chinooks and the could probably equip the Puma replacement ad the remaining Chinooks as well if we wanted to. It is just something we have never done to my knowledge but it would a very useful capability to have. I doubt the Voyagers could slow down enough to do the job.

SW1 wrote:You will want to clear a number of the parachute operations as the French Air Force has before we get to worrying about aar capability.

Do we need to do that, separately?

Isn't the next thing the 'drop' platform: the deliver other than men, e.g. vehicles?

Lord Jim wrote:We really could do with utilising the AAR option of at least a few of our A400, if only for the Rotary fleet. Having one in the Falklands to support the Typhoons would be useful as well rather than use a Voyager.

The Falklands is posing a real dilemma now that the C-130 are going. It would seem to make sense to replace one C-130 and one Voyager with two AAR equipped A400s that can perform tanker, maritime patrol, SAR, casevac if a contract variation could be agreed with Airtanker.

I've read very little/nothing about Airtanker operations in the Falklands but I'd imagine having to maintain a Voyager in the open and retain crew and technicians down south is a burden they may wish to give up, depending on how commercially rewarding it is.