That is quite a problem. I still debate with myself whether the MoD would order 8 if they could squeeze it into the timescale. It’s only theoretical because I know they can’t but it would be interesting to know if they value the RN at all anymore. I’ve had the slight inkling that they may be slightly more serious about keeping the SSN numbers up than the rest of the fleet and have just had bad timing. No way to know though.

Personally I feel that the post Cold War peace dividend was handled rather badly, it appears the politicians just took the cuts in funding without thinking of the wider strategic industrial implications.

Al – There are reports that suggest that Barrow still isn’t up to full staff now after the Vanguard to Astute production gap, despite a frantic recruitment drive.

For emphasis from Wiki:

Following a decline in employment levels at the shipyard over the last 20 years, BAE recently announced that the current workforce of 3,835 could soon grow to 5,000, although this is still only a third of the 14,000 employed in the 1980s.

IFF there weren’t any snags in the design and build process.

I don’t know how modular T45s are but building lots of the same hull with GENUINELY* very minor changes could be the most efficient way forward.

Al

* i.e. if Artisan can be made as a straight swap for Sampson and SCALP and CAMM put in the same silos as Aster and the rear mast either left off or just built but without a Volume Air Search radar on top of it then this could be a winner. As tempting as it is to say ‘just add X’ that ‘just’ is more complex and expensive than redrawig it in paint or photoshop could lead one to believe.

T45 was built in modules

T45 has space for longer VLS to be installed so there’s that module at least should be okay to leave alone.

If the T45 is used as a base for C1 I would expect at the least the S1850 Air Search Radar would be left off and the hanger redesigned with boats further forward allowing hanger space for 2 helos.

Very much. A loitering munition that can provide its own ISTAR product and relay that to the ship could be extraordinarily useful in high persistance, elevated threat scenarios. Be interesting to see if it can be made to fit a Sylver cell.

The Fireshadow design is compatible with the space envelope of T45s
Sylver VLS.

Page 16

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/upload/pdf/08_489_HMS_daring_VIP_low_20090122125408.pdf

Of course that’s not the same as saying it does fit but fingers crossed the work is done to find out.

Nice thanx for the vid….

Here is an old Super-Hornet video..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-_OWMDN64M

Features the same display as the one nhampton posted:confused:

Or at least one with the same loadout.

The UK and Pakistan are discussing a deal under which the Pakistan Navy (PN) could acquire up to three Type 42 Batch 3 destroyers following their retirement from the Royal Navy (RN), Jane’s has learned.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is conducting a separate dialogue with the United States regarding the availability of additional FFG 7 frigates, as the PN looks to recapitalise a large part of its surface combatant force through second-hand acquisitions.

The PN frigate force currently comprises six ex-RN Type 21s constituting the 25th Destroyer Squadron. Transferred between 1993 and 1994, these ships – now known as the Tariq class – have undergone significant modernisation since transfer, but all are now over 30 years old and becoming increasingly difficult to support.

Pakistan also has four F22P frigates on order from China with the first, Zulfiquar, due to be accepted into service later this year.

http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jni/jni090527_1_n.shtml

😮

Historic performance can certainly be misleading, since the last couple of years technology made huge leaps. But if one assumes that the relative technological differential remains about constant, then the anti-ship missile hits far more often than they are actively defeated.

HIT
# INS Eilat (SS-N-2)
# 5 Syrian Komars & Osas (Gabriel)
# HMS Sheffield (AM39)
# HMS Glamorgan (MM38)
# USS Stark (AM39)
# IS Joshan (SM-1)
# IS Sahand (AGM-84)
# 20+ small Iraqi vessels (Sea Skua)
# INS Hanit (C-701)
# Georgian Stenka class (SS-N-9)

ACTIVELY DEFEATED
# several SS-N-2 (Battle of Latakia — chaff)
# one MM38 (Falklands — chaff)
# one C-201 (Gulf War — Sea Dart missile)

Feel free to add/correct!

In any case they hit much more often than were defeated. And since it doesn’t really matter from what platform they are launched, AShMs seem to pose a serious threat and hence also FACs with AShMs.

You can add Atlantic Conveyor (AM39) to that list.

Think nothing of it.

Incidently I appear to have downloaded this some time ago if anyone wants it I’m sure I could upload it somewhere.