They should have continued T23 construction until the first T45 began construction and the T45’s should have been a multi-year contract for 12 right from the start. 😛

But then the polies would never have been able to cut the numbers to divert funds elsewhere:eek:

Well I’d agree that I was probably overplaying the recruitment card a little, start using a stick with the welfare budget and then reduces further, but then does the RN really want people that had to be forced to work…………..

Regarding the C3s, its probably a little misleading comparing the Khareefs with RN C3s price wise because we don’t really know what the costs will be for MCM/Survey/whatever else modules will cost, although there is always the potential for a big fat order to bring economies of scale into play.

Flubba where are the RN going to get the manpower for a 60 escorts force?

Also why do we really need that number? Everybody knows why we had that many in the 80s, the threat of the red banner fleet isn’t there anymore and with better situational awareness available to RN these days we just don’t need that many.

Or a steam generator separate from the propulsion.

Or a really big kettle:D

Umm i might not understand it too well, but since CVF is a STOVL carrier, why shouldn’t the second one be able to use the F35 B???? all you need is a flat deck with a skijump, no???

So if i use my small brain right this means there will be 2 carriers, but with only 1 airwing? That’s how france worked in the past.

Bingo, both carriers are being built, only enough fast jets for one, nothing from stopping more to be ordered later if the Government decides to stump up the cash, bit of a non story really since most of us expected the F35B buy to be reduced anyway.

I would definitely pick the JC1/Canberra design over Mistral, cost about “€300m for a very spartan fit”, would need to add some bits no doubt pushing the cost up a bit, but its a good ship, lots of space and I like having the ability to use it as a small carrier in an emergency, screw the politicians, if the Aussies can keep the ski jump and without getting people confused so can RN.

Cavour is whole different ball game in terms of price, its designed specifically for Fast jets with an secondary amphib/transport function, JC1/Canberra class is designed the other way around.

A reasonable assumption (I do forget things, a lot) but in this case incorrect.

Brazil has a big flat top and is practising operating Skyhawks from it. Which is great and certainly no trivial capability. Brazil also certainly has the numbers. Sao Paulo will be able to operate more aircraft than a USMC platform. BUT ….. I don’t see these old Skyhawks as being superior to the AV8B+.

If/when Turbo trackers are ready for use as AEW then Brazil will have a capability that USMC just do not have. And the comparison becomes trickier. Is AEW worth more than AV8B+’s superior radar and BVM?

If/when Brazil has AEW Turbo trackers AND Rafael-Ms then sure they have knocked USMC aviation into 4th place.

If/when USMC get F35s the comparison returns to trickyville. Is AEW + RafaelM better ot worse than F35 without AEW? (I regard this last as hypothetical and apologise in advance for the flood of definitive statements which will be made by fans of one aircraft or the other)

I was speaking from a purely technical and pedantic standpoint that Brazil has a carrier with a catapult (as does USN and France);)