Since Argentina claimed since 1833 till now, it’s still matters. If Argentina couldn’t do anything was because the military power of the country was too much smaller than the British one. But that Argentina did nothing because they knew they will loose, doesn’t meant they loose interest on the islands.
I studied a lot the claims of sovereignty and the true is that no one has a convincing and objective point. British and Argentine say they arguments are solid, but the fact that the UN still says is a disputed territory is because they cannot accept the claims of none of the both countries because they are not convincing. I think that the rights of the islanders are important, as they are the only ones that lived there for so many years, but also is important to recognize that their families are not original from the islands. They are not descendants from natives of the islands, they are descendants from those who occupied an invaded territory.
Your points of view are the most objective on this thread and shows knowledge on the item and no nationalism, which is the base of the problem between both countries. Unfortunately, British and Argentine nationalisms, both of which are very strong, are the causes of the lack of understanding.
The main problem is that any kind of arrangements will be against the wished of the extremists from both countries, who prefer war against any kind of diplomatic solution.
Its very interesting, as I said before, that most of the veterans from both sides want a diplomatic solution, knowing that both sides have to resign some of their claims. But meanwhile, a lot of people prefer another war and a lot of people killed only to say the islands are theirs. But most of this people will never ever live in those islands.
A diplomatic solution, sharing the sovereignty, will have a lot of benefits for both countries, as less (or none) expense on defense, better commercial relations (I think no one here thinks of this, but Argentina was the main British customer in Latin America until 1982), military relations and many more. That is more important than those islands with about 2,000 inhabitants, of which, the true, nor the British or the Argentine government and people cares.

There were no native people on the islands. 😉

As for the military people wanting a diplomatic solution, i’m guessing its because they don’t want more people to fight and die over the islands rather then wanting their own side to relinquish power over the islands or give concessions over their demands.

OK, I see. Thanks for the explanation. Although this means alot of airframes wont get a “rest” right? Surely they are just going to wear out the honest more quickly?

I’m guessing that what will actually happen is that these airframes rather then being moved to frontline squadrons will go through maintenance to refurbish them enough that they can stay in service longer. Just shuffling the airframes around wont do much.

You are 100% correct , as I am when I state that in 80% of the world UK is still referred to as “England”. Even here in Australia “term” England in very commonly used when referring to UK. Hence no need to snap at people, after all he did not refer to UK with some derogatery term.. like “fuzzy wuzzies” 😉

Nah, there Pom’s!!

Oh, and stop picking on the 7th State of Australia, just because they have an unhealthy obcession with sheep…. 😉

The Rafale is too expensive if we consider the only conflict hypothesis Argentina has is the Malvinas / Falklands one, and Argentina is not seeking a war with United Kingdom by know. The only possibility is an escalate of the conflict by United Kingdom.
The Flanker is a good option, but the FAA officials are not interested on Russian weapons, they are looking for F-16s or Mirage 2000, but until now, the government is not interested on spending money on fighters. Almost for sure the next government will spend money on new planes, but this will be by 2012 and fighters will come after other things are fixed, as for example, restore the spares stocks, put all the existing planes in service, modernize others and buy or build new weapons.
One of the main advantages of the Flanker is its range, because Argentina’s mainland is 5,000km long and 1,100 km wide.

Fixed it for you.

I doubt the UK has any interest in fighting an expensive war which would cost British lives unless Argentina force them into it.

Argentina can’t afford new fighters on their current military budget.

I think the Argentinean’s would know the limitations of their own assets better than anyone else!
Their aircraft may be old by design, but they have proven they have the pilots skills

They still only have rear aspect Heat Seekers though AFAIK.

I would not put all my faith in HAS to protect your aircraft!

Rapier.

What chance does your flight of four Typhoon QRA have if attacked by Special Forces?

Possibility, if the special forces can get onto the Island and through the defenses without setting off alarms.

One of the biggest things I have never been able to get my head around is the deliberate lack or want of light and medium type lack of Anti aircraft guns by the British military full stop!
Their total faith in missile defence was proven to be flawed in the last Falklands War.
Its ironic that the British were so impressed by the capability and performance of the Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon AA gun system and its supporting Skyguard radar system operated against them by the Argentinean’s that 12 guns and 4 Skyguard radars were put into British service back in Britain after they were captured.
Again as the British were made to discover (once again after all that had been experienced during the Second World War) first hand was that AA guns make excellent and devastating direct-fire mission against ground troops!
(Do this British still employ these captured Argentinean AA guns or have they chosen to forget that lesson as well!)

All gone, British units are a lot more heavily armed now though, blowpipe has been replaced by a better MANPAD and RN frigates and destroyers at minimum are fitted with 1-2 30mm guns in Typhoon powered mounts, with some fitted with phalanx or goalkeeper in addition.

And what about the biggest fundamental mistake of the British military forces that had to take back the Falkland Islands in 1982?
The total neglect and disregard for the importance of AEW!

Not a neglect, it just wasnt figured into their plans that they’d be fighting a war 8000 miles from home and 4000 miles from the nearest RAF base.

Sea King AEW was developed in something like 10 weeks in time to go south on Lusty though.

Does the existing Falkland’s garrison have AEW assets to both warn and take the initiative?

Probably not, but google is your friend. Look it up yourself.

If no, then they should!
It is very doubt full that the Argentinean’s would attempt an air or sea strike – if they could not be guaranteed the initial element of surprise.
The RAF and the Falkland garrison does not need some big and expensive (to both run and maintain!) Sentry AEW1(E-3D) stationed down in the South Atlantic.
Something as small and cost effective as the Embraer EMB-145 / Erieye would go a long way in dominate the aerospace of the Falkland Islands and any surprise attacks!

Add another aircraft/equipment type to inventory that would need supporting? Are you mad?

Saying this I think the Argintinian’s would be wised to invest in the likes of Sukhoi Su-30’s for both their capability, range, price and no strings attached politics!

If only they could afford them. :rolleyes:

PS.Spell checker is your friend.

the point wasn’t that particular cruise ship, it was about the SIZE of ships that could dock

however looking up more info, it appears cruise ships anchor in the sound and use tenders to shuttle back and forth to the port

still, get a large ship there, it doesn’t take much imagination (admittedly more than the very limited imaginations on display here) to see it getting enough troops ashore to make things VERY interesting

The problem is getting it there without detection. And then managing to unload all the troops and their supplies before it goes boom. 😉

Around the Falklands can be found 1 Frigate or Destroyer, 1 OPV(H), 1 SAR Sea King, 1 Tristar Tanker, 4 Typhoons, Falklands Fisheries OPV’s (armed), Falklands Fishers Aircraft. Plus the occasional SSN, with a Swiftsure class boat apparently docking in South Africa mid-march. Oh, and I forgot at least one RFA to support the RN ships in the area.

On land there are two company groups of light infantry, plus units of the RAF Regiment and Royal Engineers that combined would probably give another short company at minimum.

Within 24 hours of an alert, rapid reaction forces would start arriving from the UK, with Tornado’s and further Typhoons not far behind.

You don’t tell them what exactly you’re offloading obviously!

Surely drugs get into the Falklands somehow. Let him think you got a drug shipment coming in, tell him to go take a walk for a couple hours

Doubt it, if there are drugs in the falklands they’d have to be grown there. Wouldn’t be surprised if every ship got a full inspection when it arrived, given the low number of Arrivals (doesn’t take much to support 3,000 people who grow their own food) and since the RFA deliver to their own port facility.

Maybe not drugs, but there are plenty of other plausible excuses you could give

Examples?:diablo:

And like I said, if all else fails, a few silenced weapons and no more problem

Probably harder then you imply.

Discretely set up ‘barriers’ around the ship so that people can’t see exactly what is going on.

Check out the setup of the harbour, would arrouse Suspicions

Do it at night and use infrared lights so it’s not obvious how many people are there

And people wouldn’t think unloading the ship at night would be weird? Plus it would need a port pilot to enter the harbour in the first place, and a customs inspection before they unload.

Offload a few at a time and shuttle them to a couple remote assembly points

Avoiding notice how?

There’s a million and one ways to tackle such a problem, there’s nothing impossible about it

Then think of some reasonable ones.

Fortunately I wouldn’t be the one in charge of planning it.

Argentine Foreign Minister admitted they are limited to diplomatic pressure as they can’t match the UK.

I’m sure the Argentinian forces DO have an idea about what it is like

You mean about how much the local population hate them?

You put 5,000 armed troops ready for battle on the ground, they will NOT be captured or killed very quickly

Not going to fit them on the probably 1 or 2 ships per week that arrive in harbour. And i’m not sure where the ships supplying the Island come from. They may come from Brazil or the UK rather then Argentina.

One thing that history has shown is that there is no such thing as an ‘impregnable defense’

There is such thing as the opponent not having the forces to break through those defenses though.

That sort of arrogant “there’s no way they could possibly do that” thinking is exactly what makes such things possible.

Only by treating the opponent with respect and carefully considering all possiblities can you hope to avert disaster

True, but remember the UK have spent the last 28 years preparing for a second war over the Falklands.

You guys are forgetting South Africa’s Gripens. Now where is that popcorn?

I raise you F-18F Super Hornets? :diablo:

Fairly sure the first couple have been handed over…..:cool: