Sounds like this is the second phase of the Army’s inter-service strike campaign. First was Dannat with his absurdities and now we see a more ‘moderated and reasonable’ press leak that sees the army keep most of its capability. That based on the back of an Afghan campaign that the other services have already noted has a finite timeline.

Dont think this one quite rings true.

The RN could certainly offer up the remaining 42’s for 5 hulls, but, for the next few years the T22B3’s (presumably the other 4 in our noble sacrifice) will be needed for their C3 facilities not to mention a few less well-publicised tasks they are well outfitted for.

Dropping even the 42’s wouldn’t come without a price either – losing 5 hulls would likely see one of our permanent taskings dropped. Seeings we cant drop APT(N) or (S) it would likely have to be a NATO slot or the IO tasking. Thats going to cause some ripples with the less well-off nations asking why we are shirking our duty!.

Maybe, and maybe not. As far as I am aware, Daring hasnt had a deployment yet.

I think the aim would be that the RAF would have 107 Typhoon’s plus another 90 odd F-35B’s (to bring the total number just under 200, and I suspect includes those slated to operated by the FAA).

What, the 90 odd F-35B’s wont be entering service in numbers for about another decade? So you want to draw down you capacity then build it back up again? Not cheap to re-establish a capability once its been lost, plus as Bombers not much matches the GR.4’s, not to mention that if you have to replace them in A-stan with Harriers again you wont have any harriers left in 5 years or so.

The Typhoon is not in service in anywhere close to high enough numbers for an overseas deployment.

HMS Daring damaged after colliding with tug

HMS Daring,The Royal Navy’s brand new destroyer, has been damaged after crashing into a tug on her way into port.

The Type 45 destroyer – hailed by the navy as the most advanced warship in the world – was returning from routine operations when the collision happened.

She struck the civilian vessel Switzer Sussex on her way into Marchwood, on Southampton Water in Hampshire.

It is believed the tug lost power to its engines as it was about to start towing the 7,500 tonne Portsmouth-based ship into Marchwood. As the warship approached, it was therefore unable to move out of the way.

An inquiry has been launched and the precise extent of the damage to HMS Daring has yet to be established.

A Royal Navy spokesman said: “The damage at the moment is still being assessed, and we won’t have any further information until that assessment is completed.
Full Story

Pranged it already? 😮

I guess that wont be something the Captain and OOW would have wanted on their CV.

If you can’t even keep the place clean, how are you supposed to keep it going if it gets a couple of artillery shells put through the side, or even a couple of RPG’s?

The biggest downside of the LCS. Is the cost of the platform, especially given how basic it is without Mission modules fitted.

Because the modules are not exactly cheap either.

Lord Jim.

Not exactly correct. F-35B’s aboard the carriers will have the task of Fleet Air Defense.

The MOD cancels the F-35B and Lockheed Martin cancels the “rear fuselage” package currently being built by British Aerospace in Samiesbury.

Remember the MOD has already investigated millions in the F-35 program and that will all be lost.

Sounds to me like canceling the F-35B and buying the “cheaper” F-18 is a lose lose situtition for the British taxpayers.

Contracts have been signed, if LM breaks the contracts, the amount of money they would have to pay for BAe would probably be enormous.

The contracts were placed based on merit, not neccessarily how much the partner nation has spent on development.