A bit from the BBC today

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4892524.stm

Who in the view of the forum members currently operates the most advanced Minehunters ? Is there a comparison somewhere on the net apart from the earlier discussion ?

I know the RN are supposed to be doing something on this soon for their next generation boats but I don’t think anything has been published yet

There has been a lot of soul searching over the future of MPA’s and what role long range UAV’s can play. The blue water ASW role has been decreasing in importance, switching instead to the littorals which can been handled by helo’s and smaller MPA’s. Hence the reluctance to invest in a platforms designed for the role of the Atlantics/Nimrods/Orions/May’s etc.

Daniel

And yet the RAF is currently building their Nimrod MPA’s which are the most technically complex aircraft they have ever operated, or so they claim. five times the computer code of a B2 etc ………. There are so few parts re-used on the MR4A that I think it can nearly be called a new airframe. Its frighteningly expensive as well so I can’t see anyone else going for it. An R1 derivative would be even more expensive but I suspet that is a long way away.

Another one written off. No real details yet re injuries or cause

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/US/04/03/c5.crash/index.html

Didn’t the starlifter also have wing issues, I am sure I have seen more than one photo of one with a snapped wing that happened while loading or fuelling ?

I guess they must take the view that either long range land or sea radar, AWACS or the AEW Sea Kings vectoring the aircraft will be sufficient.

As much as I love the Vulcan, it never really was a truly long range bomber with a 2000 mile range (at best). Those of you who studied the Falklands war (I know, we use it too much as an example) will know that the Vulcan missions to Stanley required 6 or 7 refuellings. Today with limited resources that would be unacceptable, and the RAF would always want to have the ability to deploy more than 1 aircraft at long ranges which would be impossible with those sorts of fuel figures.

The B1 is a great idea but I suspect a non-starter. The USA only has a very limited number of these and I suspect few if any would be released, particlarly now the B2 has been cut back.

Its been said on here before that the nature of long range bombing has now significantly changed, with the availability of stand-off weapons and the aircraft can now be made in a different way. My gut feeling is that they are looking at procuring a few stand off bomber derivatives of the Nimrod (they are not short of airframes) as reported in the Newspapers a year or so ago. An enlarged weapons bay and the removal of most of the MRA4 systems would give them a known and understood option that may not be too expensive now most of the devopment money has been spent. Something like this with the new engines would have a 12 hour endurance at full loads which would make it truly long range with stand off weapons and if stormshadow could fit, then that would be a better option.

It wouldn’t however be stealthy and that might be the rub………..