We are going to buy 12 RQ_4 Global Hawk system as a suplement to and part replacement of our Orions, these are said to be in order to help the Wedgetails patrol our waters.

We have also just issued a RFT for a UCAV though I think we should have waited at least another 10 years so that systems such as the X-45C and X-47 could gain more ground in this area of Combat.

I’m interested in hearing who else is going to buy them I know that Spain, and Portugal had a visit from a Global Hawk as did Germany, so what’s happening on that front? I don’t think that Portugal will buy any and Spain is a possible two system user, but the Luftwaffe, they were really interested in it.

Interesting shots, in the last pic there is a door like hatch (hope you don’t mind but I painted a circle on the pic with the area in question). Any idea what it is?

Originally posted by Canpark
Now that the Iraqi Coastal Defence Force is created, will the Italians deliver the two guided-missile corvettes moored in Italian port since 1991?

Mate if you’re talking about the Lupo’s they’ve been held in Italian ports since 1985 due to the Iraqi’s not paying for them, yes they are rusting away and last I heard they weren’t in ,any fit state to be shipped anywhere. The Italians tried to see them to a South American customer (possibly Venezuela who already have the type in service) but that customer rejected them.

Here’s a pic of the two ships in store, they are the two in the middle (the big ones) one is coded F-17

Well The RAN are getting two of what they term “Strategic Projection Ships”. Two designs have been narrowed down one from DCN in France and one from IZAR in Spain, I’ve been looking for the DCN submission but as yet can’t find it but I have the details of the Izar offer. One thing that is essential for the bid is that both ships must be built in Australia, which is why American yards pulled out in the initial phase!

Here are the details of the IZAR design for the Strategic Projection Ship

**EDIT**
Finally found DCN’s bid, here is the Batiments de Projection

Not the differences between the two, apart from the ski jump!

Well we are getting carriers again, two of them but not in the same sence as what we used to have. See my thread on “Questions arising from the DCR”

Nice pics Flex, if only we could see them mate 😛

Albert: Mate that’s a nice poic you got there, as for that Provost, I’d be really interested in seeing it because I came across that story a little while ago for the Historical section (which used to be Flypast)