British Armed Forces - News and Discussion

[Steak-Sauce]

Lockheed Martin Awaits U.K. F-35 Decision

Mar 13, 2012

By Robert Wall


LONDON — A possible U.K. decision to revert back to buying the F-35B rather than the C-model should not disrupt production flows, according to prime contractor Lockheed Martin.

The capacity is available to build additional F-35Bs should London pursue that route, says Stephen O’Bryan, vice president for F-35 program integration. One reason is because the U.S. near-term requirement for the B model has been reduced.

Article continued @ Aviation Week

[Steak-Sauce]

UK ready to launch Hawk T2 training, says RAF

By: Craig Hoyle London


The UK Royal Air Force will begin training its first students on the BAE Systems Hawk T2 on 2 April.

The first training course using the new type will include four RAF pilots who have already gained their wings after flying the Shorts Tucano T1, and will graduate in early 2013. A second intake of six students will include two personnel from the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, says Wg Cdr Kevin Marsh, officer commanding the RAF's 4 Sqn.

Article continued @ Flightglobal

[Steak-Sauce]

Raytheon To Replenish U.K. Supply of Precision Guided Bombs

Mar. 16, 2012 - 09:48AM | By ANDREW CHUTER


LONDON — Stocks of Royal Air Force Paveway IV precision guided bombs are being replenished in a 60 million pound ($94.8 million) deal with the weapons developer Raytheon Systems.

The weapon was used by the RAF on its Panavia Tornado GR4 strike aircraft during the recent mission against Moammar Gaddhafi’s regime in Libya. It is also fitted on British jets deployed in Afghanistan.

Article continued @ Defense News

[The Armchair Soldier]

Just a heads up.

Falklands' Most Daring Raid is on tonight at 8pm on Channel 4. The program documents the Vulcan bombing raid on Port Stanley during the Falklands War.

[Lawndart]

Just a heads up.

Falklands' Most Daring Raid is on tonight at 8pm on Channel 4. The program documents the Vulcan bombing raid on Port Stanley during the Falklands War.

Thanks for the heads up, but they would make it clash with Top Gear wouldn't they?

On the subject of the Black Buck raids, I'd recommend Vulcan 607 by Rowland White, a pretty damned good read about what it took from both man and machine to make the raids possible.

[The Armchair Soldier]

Thanks for the heads up, but they would make it clash with Top Gear wouldn't they?

No problem. You should be able to watch it on 4oD after it's been shown on TV, if you'd rather do that.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/f...es-1/episode-1

[Steak-Sauce]

MBDA delivers first Fire Shadow loitering weapons

By: Craig Hoyle London


MBDA has launched production of its Fire Shadow loitering munition system for the British Army, and has reported receiving interest in the design from several other potential buyers.

"We have completed the final development firings," says Steve Wadey, the European company's UK managing director and executive group director technical. "All firings have been entirely successful against a variety of fixed and manoeuvring vehicles."

Article continued @ Flightglobal

[Steak-Sauce]

Airspace Integration Slows Watchkeeper

Mar 22, 2012

By Robert Wall


LONDON — Continued delays in fielding the Watchkeeper unmanned aircraft are linked to clearing the system for use in military and civil airspace, the U.K. Defense Ministry says.

After several delays, the military was hoping to field Watchkeeper in Afghanistan last year, but that milestone was only the latest of several missed for one of the U.K.’s flagship unmanned aircraft efforts. Now, Peter Luff, defense minister for equipment, tells Parliament that obtaining the airworthiness certification to fly in both civil and military environments “is taking longer than anticipated.”

Article continued @ Aviation Week

[marktigger]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...ence-cuts.html

well if this is correct the bulk of the cuts will fall on the support services. So if the army is deployed again the mean time between tours for the Infantry will still be 18mths -2 years but Loggies, medics, gunners etc will be on back to back tours.

[happyslapper]

Military planners say the reductions were forced on them because of David Cameron’s promise that “no infantry cap badges should be lost” when the Army is cut from 100,000 troops to 82,000 by 2020....
the number of infantry battalions will reduce from 36 to 25

Those 36 battalions are regular battalions. We also have 14 Territorial battalions (16 including SF), which the government wants to roughly double the size of, whilst stripping away 11 of those reg bn's.

I do wonder if some of those cap-badges will continue to be worn only on tuesday nights and weekends - the maths of reduction vs cultural retention is getting awfully tight!

We can definitley kiss goodbye to 4&5 RIFLES, some of the Royal Jocks, 3 YORKS etc...
(and with them the much heralded and alarmingly short-lived 'super regiments', and some very historic units (Royal Green Jackets, Duke of Wellington's, The Highlanders, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders....)

What the fvck has happened???? 10 years ago, these were independant regiments with a strong identity and more battle-honours than most foreign armies (in their entirety). If ever you wanted empirical evidence of just how badly HM Forces have been managed in recent years... look no further.

[marktigger]

Because the Civil service can use army tradition of 1-3 bn regts against the super regiments. Which is something I think i mentioned at the time.

[happyslapper]

HMS Liverpool decomissioned after 30 years service

http://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/4211

Fantastic ship, and I'm glad she went out with a bang (excuse the pun) and proved that under fire, the RN's escort fleet still kicks arse....

[SDL]

What's this about the new tankers not being compatible with Tornado's? media cr*p or a slightly problematic technical SNAFU

[Arfah]

Government media spin ? Time to get rid of the Tonka ?

Does the system work with other UK jets ?

[SDL]

According to the news article i read (which is putting it a bit nicely as it was in The Sun), the fuel system works fine with US jets, but not the Tornado... no mention of the Eurofighter.