The US is starting a replacement program for their Ohio SSBNs, would there be any worth in a co-oparative program?

I was suggesting what we should have done.

Ah, my apologies, I only saw that last one.

Tbh I’m not entirely sure where I sit on the whole off the shelf debate. It might mean that the MoD could get better equipment, and cheaper; but supporting local industries is important too…..

The motion of the ship and electromagnetic environment must make the business that much harder for them.

I wouldn’t have thought so. If the avionics on other carrier aircraft can be shielded from EM interference then I don’t see why it would be a problem with a UAV.

I’m a charitable person by nature, and when I hate seeing people forced to live on the street. A friend of mine, if asked for spare change, used to offer to buy food for street dwellers, and that seemed like a decent idea, as they won’t be able to go and spend it on other, more intoxicating things.

My desire to do this as well is counterbalanced by my A) fear of my own safety and B) cynicism.

I think on the first count it is partially justified, but have we demonised one another so much that we don’t trust anyone who claims they need help?

On the second point, it is sometimes confirmed. In my hometown there was a young-ish couple who would sit begging outside the main shopping area of the town centre. The thing is, they already had a council house – they just did this to guilt people out of cash.

I don’t know. I just think it’s sad that if I were faced with a situation like BumbleBee my gut reaction would be not to trust this person.

But nobody is threatening the British isles. Most actions will be offensive in nature and for that the army needs to have a certain size and power. If you have the carriers you need an army strong enough to exploit the possibilities of the carriers.

Agreed; in fact I am increasingly of the opinion that the British Army should be shaped into a projectile to be fired by the Royal Navy 😀

In all seriousness though, shouldn’t the focus be on building the forces into something capable of

A) Capable of protecting British and Allied sovereignty at home and
B) Capable of expeditionary warfare throughout the world

The question is, how to achieve this? Would there be any benefit to have a single defense force?

Apparently the decision on trident might be delayed:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11326297

“Former shadow defence minister Julian Lewis added that the commitment to push ahead with Trident had been one of the elements which persuaded Tory MPs to agree to the coalition with the Lib Dems.

He said he would be “amazed” if Defence Secretary Liam Fox remained in his job if there was a rethink.”

Could this be a ploy to oust Fox? By engineering this problem it might enrage the back benchers, allowing Cameron to replace Fox with someone who will simply roll over and accept ever bigger cuts?