Thanks very much. That’s the photo of a mock-up I remember.

I think it looks rather like the 1990s BAE Replica concept.

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3590

It looks more like the EADS Mako to me.

Congress seems to be the only organisation realy interested in Nuclear power. Depending on how much influence the Navy actually had over this study thid may well be an effort to create the most insane ship design they can in order to throw congress of the idea. Lets face it the only way you could get more extravagant than the 25,000 ton proposal is an anti-gravity powered laser armed star destroyer.

What really frustrates me is that with the Flight 2 AB’s the USN seems to have found the perfectly balanced and sized multi-role DDG, now all those lessons are being thrown to the wind in the pursuit of a plethora of other concepts.

I re-read an article on Richard Beedall’s site, and although he said Hawkeye can be launched via ski-jump, there was also mention of the problems of modifying it to be used properly for STOBAR – must have not read his MASC page for a while.

There is also the UAV option, even if it is just as a supplement to a manned platform.

Personally I think Osprey is still a possibility, even if it is not as likely as a new helicopter.

The Osprey is a vague possibility but frankly it is a project for which I hold out very little hope. Whilst it is being supported by the Navy the Marines seem uninterested and with the USN currently ordering the E-2D they can live without the AEW Osprey. Its only role in the USN would be to increase the capability and broaden the role of the F-35 carrying amphibious ships.

I am currently not aware of any serious AEW UAV projects if there are any I would be intrigued to hear about them. A large UAV with conformal arrays might be a usable solution (possibly based on the new large BAe UCAV?), but if it ever happens it would be a very long way away.

I would say the fact we’ve been investing in the F-35 project and are placing/have placed an order for 2 F-35Bs for next year is a better indication we will be using the JSF, rather than a video. 😎

No it wouldn’t, because currently there has been no decision on what would be used. Sea Kings may be kept for a few years after 2014, but they are not a permanent solution – MASC is going to replace them with a new frame whether it’s another helicopter, Osprey or Hawkeye.

Seeing that as yet the Osprey design is going nowhere and the Hawkeye needs a catapult it looks like its going to be a helo.

That does not mean that the video is not an indication as well.;)

Then why suggest the video was indicative of anything? Whether you meant to or not, you suggested it meant something.

Given the earliest date of commissioning of HMS Queen Elizabeth is 2014, that should give enough time to find a good MASC solution. I’m not surprised a helo appeared in a promotional video from last year given there was no idea whether funding for the carriers would be approved, how much, etc.

The Osprey news was from Flight Global. The catapult rumour was from RumRation, but I don’t have a link to the comments.

It would probably be a good idea to wait until formal statements on the carriers’ design, etc are made towards the end of the year/next year before complaining about V/STOL, etc.

So now the video is indicative of nothing is it, so the carriers wont be flying F-35’s after all?:rolleyes: If there was another realistic option on the cards at the time it would have made it into that little public relations video. Every indication is that the ships will be V/STOL, other than vague unsubstantiated rumors to the contrary. I read the osprey news, thats why I know that also mentioned that the project is as yet completely unfunded and not part of the V-22 program.

That’s a video that’s been around since the start of 2006 – it’s hardly an indication of their current plans for MASC. :rolleyes:

Let’s see how the USN’s plan to use the Thales Cerberus maritime surveillance radar on the V-22 Osprey goes. That would be a very competitive solution for MASC. There have also been suggestions that HMS Prince of Wales will receive a catapult, HMS Queen Elizabeth receiving one during her first refit.

Things move that quickly in the MoD these days do they?:rolleyes: Fact is that there is nothing on the cards for the MASC at the moment.

Do you have a source for you suggestions?

BTW, unless the situation has changed recently the V-22/Cerberus combination currently has no funding and does not form any part of the V-22 program, so it does not look like its going anywhere.:confused:

Looks like it’s grown even beyond the early figures. It’s up to 39″ in diameter and 40 feet long it looks like (KEI that is). Interesting that ATK is working on this in ADDITION to the IRBM they want to stick in the conventionally armed Ohios.

I would have thought that there is alot of cross over between the three projects. I cant imagine there being too much difference between this new missile and the sub launched one.