And WAAY more capable. But what Im really looking for, is just how much this fiasco will cost the Indian Navy once/if it is finaly delivered.

In hindsight yes, but at the time of the offer it appeared a cheap way to get a carrier capable of CATOBAR operations whilst awaiting their own ADS to be built. Given the original expectations on costs and delivery schedule then it probably appeared to be value for money.

Comparing costs to CdG is a pointless exercise, the CdG design wasn’t for sale due to its propulsion and mis 2000’s prices for a new build CdG would be astronomic (otherwise the french would have ordered a 2nd ship rather than get bogged down in its own PA2 requirement !). Plus it would have to be a new build and Indian was already working on its own carrier project so couldn’t justify building another new carrier design overseas !

HMS Protector just a Stop Gap for now

Update on the Protector news and it is going to be the Polarbjorn.

http://www.navynews.co.uk/news/1122-new-antarctic-patrol-ship-announced.aspx

However they say its a 3 year lease and the future of Endurance is still under debate.

My thinking is that they couldn’t find a suitable long term solution off the shelf in terms of available Icebreakers with the size and capability they require so will settle for a short term solution whilst they have a rethink and see what money they have to play with. Given the 3 year lease they will either decide to put up and make do with Protector or bite the bullet and start the Endurance refit during this period as i rather doubt they could fund a new vessel to replace both.

Protector could have them scratching their heads a bit as the flight deck is as per Dilligence a platform above the accomodation block and they really want hanger & flight deck for their Lynx :confused:

Ironically Libya is a prime example where the Carriers would be in their element as the RAF struggle to find a viable friendly airbase to conduct operations from. Of course the the journalists won’t pick up on that fact 🙁

Without self defense, CVF skippers had better plan to never go anywhere a salvo of C-802s would constitute a mission-killing ambush. Especially troubling are narrow straits where ships navigate in single file.

Err thats why the CVF have Phalanx CIWS, they just don’t have an area air defence missile system at present

AGREE!!!!!!!!! And putting the GTs above the waterline?!

What :eek:?

They are there for a reason, they are not direct drive engines anymore but generate electricity so they don’t need to be buried in the bowels of the ship, located under the Islands means there is is less complex ducting that feed the air they need and exhaust their gasses with greatly impeding into the valuable hanger area. Also their location in the sponsons allows for an easy change of the engines without having to have access panels into the heart of the ship to gain access.

We learnt alot after designing and building the Invincibles and the CVF has been designed to avoid many of these pitfalls. Obviously some of members have no clue about the design process of the CVF. BTW hows your first GT powered avaiation vessel doing ?

Plus of course Canada have already dismissed the Type 26/GCS idea already after the Brit Ambassador tried to plug it in the Canadian media.

Anybody spot this on flight this week :-

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/03/01/353754/avalon-f-35-programme-could-gain-new-partners-in-2011.html

Vice Admiral Venlet hinting at new partners joining the F-35 program possibly this year appears rather postive.

However in discussing the F-35B sea trials durings its probationary period gave me the impression that he has some doubts over the viability of the aircraft ?

Basically so as not to make it an election issue when there are more pressing concerns on the aggenda, couple that with working out which station offers the best solution for being re-developed or re-rolled.

BTW its a Con-Lib govt so more aimed at the Scottish Liberal voters rather than the rarer Scottish Tory voter !