I came across this the other day. Read the sole comment @ the end, it made me chuckle :D.

http://www.theengineer.co.uk/production-engineering/in-depth/baes-titanium-parts-facility/1008380.article

Yeah there is an irony there 😀

If the local Sigma is getting VL MICA switching the Nahkoda Ragam to the same missile is a very happy and logical solution.

Indonesia is getting a bargain!

Well there is a way for the Australian army to plug that gap…send their recruiters to the UK!

Britain is laying off 5300 soldiers!:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21134353

If the Australian MOD put in a concerted effort to recruit in the UK (I’m sure they have contacts in the British army) I have a hunch a fair few would fancy moving themselves and family to warmer climbs! Australia would get trained soldiers who speak the same language from a doctrinally similar army.

Well the picture says it all really! The ARA Santísima Trinidad has sunk in dock!

With only a caretaker crew it looks like her material state got the better of her.

http://www.infobae.com/notas/692513-Un-buque-fuera-de-servicio-sufrio-una-averia-y-evacuaron-al-personal.html

Ahhh!

For me Obi Wan that is the critical factor if Type-26 is going to be the new Type-12 Leander and an actual success on the export market! It must be adaptable to whatever sensor or weapons fit the customer wants! Actually further from that if it is going to take on the MEKO it has to be adaptable when it comes to propulsion as well!

Of course it should be noted that all the equipment being lifted off Type-23 are next generation systems as yet to enter service. Also of interest is apparently Type-26 will get a new main gun (more then likely a 5 inch) so the RN can husband the remaining 4.5 inch turrets and ammunition for the Type-45. A very sensible move in my opinion as it extends the 4.5 inch service life as much possible for the Type-45 whilst inducting an affordable off the shelf solution for the the Type-26.

It’s all nice & good to be able to integrate some bits on a plane, or manufacture some parts for it, but this is VERY far from being able to design a successful fighter project from A to Z. Losing sight of the overal design concept of a fighter plane means that you get incapable of building one when you really need to. Besides, programs like fighter planes allow your technological base to master most of the very high tech fields (propulsion, aerodynamics, electronics, etc etc).

IMHO it is better to have a fighter that lags a bit behind (and will still be enough for 99% of the wars you guys will get involved in) and master all the technologies involved than master a few of technologies within a much bigger program. & right now the F35 isn’t superior to anything that’s actually in service…

Considering the price of the first UK F35 was higher than the price the USMC paid for the whole harrier fleet + spares, I think bang-for-the-buck wise your main point is ludicrous.

Nic

Firstly if the UK wanted to develop a manned fighter it still could. The UK has know-how in all the key areas and Typhoon is frankly based on UK R&D from avionics through to engines.

Secondly what does the price we sold Harrier GR7/9 to the Americans got to do with the fact that the F35B outperforms the legacy platform.

With 2010 SSDR the treasury held a gun to the RAF’s head and said a fast jet had to go, it made more sense to retire Harrier however uncomfortable that is for people. How is stating the fact that F35B outperforms the legacy platforms it is replacing ludicrous?! Even if it hadn’t got the chop it was till on the way out. The price we got is of course less then the first F35B development airframe, the USMC were buying the Harrier airframes for their component parts and we didn’t have any other buyer. Harrier was cut to save on the operating costs, what we got for the airframes is immaterial.