I would point out that John gave no source for the 8 missiles figure he quoted. I’ve else seen 10 and 14 quoted in previous debates on this issue, so there is no reason to suspect his figure is any more correct! We should have enough missiles left to fill 2 subs completely, and probably a 3rd, not that deployment rotation would permit unless one was armed in dock. On warheads, the stockpile has gone down, but production capacity has gone up.

“Therefore the number of warheads on board each submarine would be reduced from a maximum of 48 to a maximum of 40, the number of operational missiles on the Vanguard Class submarines would be reduced to no more than eight, and the number of operational warheads reduced from fewer than 160 to no more than 120.”

Source here

Hmmm INS Koswari looks like handsome vessel, anybody know her weapon and system fit?

– 1 x CRN-91 30mm
– Igla SA-18 SAM (MANPAD ?)
– 2 x 12.7mm HMGs
– ASW capability

Sensors:
– Furuno navigation radar
– Sonar ?

Great Pics !!!
Thanks 🙂

But who would sell them to us? Second hand AV-8B+ are not exactly in large supply, nobody that has them wants to sell them.

I agree for Spain and Italy (and for Thailand :D)
But Americans (US Marines Corps) use more than 130+ AV-8B Harriers, they might as well sell it to British 12 to 24 aircraft (without serious problems).

Sea Gripen would probably need a carrier with a decent sized flight deck, larger than what is proposed here.

I agree
The Sea-Grippen was not the solution for a “small” flatop (under 35 000 tons and under 240 meters). In a near future (2030+…), medium UAV was expected to be more effective…

But you can’t use a Juan Carols I as an aircraft carrier and an amphib, it’s swing role not multi role, to do both is would need to be bigger.

Same for a pure carrier…:dev2:
And an aircraft carrier can not be amphibious (lacking well deck aft…)

A British CVF 60 000 tons carrier can take :
– up to 32 F-35 + 4/6 helico (AEW/SAR/ASW) (in a pure “carrier” mission)
– Likely up to 40 helico (in a pure “helico-carrier” mission)

A Juan Carlos 27 000+ tons can carry :
– Up to 10/12 Harrier + 10/12 helico (in a “mixed” mode)
– Up to 30 helico (in a pure “helico-carrier” mission)

In terms of ability to carry a lot of helico/STVOL aircrafts, the difference is not really great…

But the cost of “purchase” and “operationnal cost” is totally different:dev2:

Ideally Think
– 2 ships
– LHD
– 220-235+ meters
– 26 000-33 000 tons
– Hightly automatised (220-400 “core crew” + up to 1100 troops embarked)
– Extremely versatile ships (amphibious, helico-carrier, command & control, replenishment ship, hospital capabilities)
– Up to 2 dozens of helico + few UAV
– Forget traditional shaft and think 2 pods
– all electrics props
– well deck aft for up to 2 or 3 advanced/fast landing crafts
– vast interior hangars for helico, tanks, armored vehicles and others stuffs
– only defensive weapons (chaff launchers, decoy, RAM missiles, Phalanx CIWS)

Forget the F-35:dev2:

“Agressive” Air-Strikes by the French Air Force….
In the last 24 hours, the French Air Force bombed (on ground) at least 5 “Galeb” Fighters and 2 MI-35 helico in airfields around Zintan/Misrata

Source (in French) here

Rocket pods 🙁

Theses pods are full of rockets
These 2 planes were not fired on civilians…
Indeed that is why these two planes are in Malta, pilots have refused to obey orders

But it seems that few other, more loyal to Khadafi, had fired at civilians