John Fedup
The Bunker Group
At the end of the day does America want F-16s in Argentina or Chinese J-?s. I am guessing the former perhaps with a special Falklands discount for a half dozen UK F-35Bs for Falkland deployment to appease UK concerns.
Royal Air Force (RAF-UK) Discussions and Updates
- Thread starter Jambo_100
- Start date
Well you could have a relapse falling back on bad habits and claim Argentina as British territory. After all there is historical precedence.
There's an argument that politically it would be better for the UK to waive it's usual objections and allow the sale to happen, to keep Argentina from moving closer to China in terms of ties, trade etc.At the end of the day does America want F-16s in Argentina or Chinese J-?s. I am guessing the former perhaps with a special Falklands discount for a half dozen UK F-35Bs for Falkland deployment to appease UK concerns.
I'm not sure how valid that is but in the long run, Argentina buying some early model F16's won't help them much in a fight vs a country with access to carriers, fifth gen aircraft and a capable navy equipped with SSN's.
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
If Argentina was to consider Chinese jets, I would think Argentina would demand some serious commitment wrt abuse of their fisheries. I believe Argentina has been very aggressive in repelling Chinese fishing boats.
Ex-UK pilots lured to help Chinese military, MoD says
Up to 30 former UK military pilots are thought to have gone to train members of China's Army.
www.bbc.com
The Chinese hiring ex RAF pilots. I'm surprised the Chinese didn't start doing this as far back as decade ago and I'd also be very surprised if they aren't trying to hire ex pilots from other countries.
overlander
Member
It was planned but not so early, it seems that New government arrives with defence cuts, not good news.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk
British fleet of C-130 Hercules aircraft put up for sale
The Ministry of Defence has placed its entire fleet of C-130 tactical airlifters up for sale ahead of the type being removed from service next year.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk
First we order A400M to replace C-130, though probably not enough. Then we reduce our A400M order & say we'll keep a lot of C-130J. Now we're selling those C-130J with only vague words about increasing A400M capability.
Maybe swap tranche 1 Typhoons for surplus Spanish A400M, since the Spanish are upgrading their T1s - something that's supposedly impractical for ours. ;D
Maybe swap tranche 1 Typhoons for surplus Spanish A400M, since the Spanish are upgrading their T1s - something that's supposedly impractical for ours. ;D
It was planned but not so early, it seems that New government arrives with defence cuts, not good news.
British fleet of C-130 Hercules aircraft put up for sale
The Ministry of Defence has placed its entire fleet of C-130 tactical airlifters up for sale ahead of the type being removed from service next year.
That's the Bangladesh Air force Logo
P.S- to the moderators, this is OC, please allow this.
I suspect the A400M is just a bit big to get in and out of some of the fields the Herky bird needs to get access to for the SFOR work. However, if they are committed to getting the type out of service, putting them up for sale is probably a pragmatic move.
Seems to be a bit more widespread than just RAF pilots apparently:Ex-UK pilots lured to help Chinese military, MoD says
Up to 30 former UK military pilots are thought to have gone to train members of China's Army.
The Chinese hiring ex RAF pilots. I'm surprised the Chinese didn't start doing this as far back as decade ago and I'd also be very surprised if they aren't trying to hire ex pilots from other countries.
Former US military pilot who worked in China arrested in Australia | CNN
A former US military pilot and flight instructor who worked in China was arrested in Australia and faces extradition to the United States, Australian court documents and company records show.
edition.cnn.com
Given they're lobbing a quarter million GBP at people for a year, I'll have to assume we're looking at the tip of the iceberg here.
Indeed and it would be realistic to assume that they've also hired or plan to hire ex intel, submarine and SF types for the knowledge they can share/impart. I know I would if the decision was mine.
Absolutely - if they're poking away at one aspect, just as you say, they'll be looking at the entire force structure, air, sea, SFOR etc.
It does make a lot of sense, and I'm sure they're also avid collectors of memoirs, readers of blogs etc.
Yes, having the A400M as our smallest fixed-wing tactical transport does seem a little odd, but from what's been reported that's what's been decided.
OldTex
Well-Known Member
Defence Post has reported that the number of competitors for the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) program have been reduced to 4. Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Airbus, and Leonardo are now waiting for the complete requirements to be released by the MoD, with the request for proposals expected to be issued in 2023. Not only will the selection of the successful supplier be interesting but so will the final number of helicopters to be supplied. Based on previous MOD programs it is almost a given that the number will be less than the maximum of 44 previously mentioned. It will also be interesting to see if the originally suggested entry into service date of 2025 will be achieved.
Redlands18
Well-Known Member
A couple of interesting things out of that. The NH-90 TTH did not make the cut and Boeing is competing against Leonardo with its version of a Leonardo design.
I'd take the Blackhawk in a heart beat as I believe it uses the same engines as Apache?
On delivery dates, if they're being built in the UK (which the blurb seems to suggest regarding "social impact") then we'll get them five years later than requested.
UK scraps additional A400M buy as ‘unaffordable' (janes.com)
Not only are the C130s still being withdrawn, but the government have also decided no additional A400 aircraft will be purchased.
Regardless of the argument about C130 v A400, it doesn't matter how good an aircraft is, they can't be in 2 x places at once.
is there any point in having defence reviews? the UK was going to keep the C130 in service until 2035, 232? x Typhoons, 138 x F35 were to be purchased & there are rumours the NMH order will be reduced & the same thing will probably happen when the Tempest is ordered.
The UK has more commitments than most countries & without the support from the treasury (which is unlikely) the military will continue to have to do more with less.
Not only are the C130s still being withdrawn, but the government have also decided no additional A400 aircraft will be purchased.
Regardless of the argument about C130 v A400, it doesn't matter how good an aircraft is, they can't be in 2 x places at once.
is there any point in having defence reviews? the UK was going to keep the C130 in service until 2035, 232? x Typhoons, 138 x F35 were to be purchased & there are rumours the NMH order will be reduced & the same thing will probably happen when the Tempest is ordered.
The UK has more commitments than most countries & without the support from the treasury (which is unlikely) the military will continue to have to do more with less.
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The armed forces would be a lot better equipped if they'd stop cocking up procurement. Much of it's political, but a lot of the incompetence in specifying & buying stuff seems to come from the armed forces wanting everything to be bespoke, frequently changing their minds, & the way they manage projects.
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
Agree and the CAF is a prime example.
Musashi_kenshin
Well-Known Member
Yep, basically that's right. The Royal Navy is getting more priority after being the Cinderella of the armed forces branches for years (to the extent the government was planning to not have any ship-launched AShMs for up to a decade). The RAF's only jam on the horizon is the prospect of Tempest. The Army isn't doing much better with only having a modest number of tanks upgraded to Challenger 3 - then again they should be glad Ajax hasn't had the plug pulled yet.
Cuts to the numbers of transport aircraft will be annoying for the Army and RAF, but it's one of those things that will just have to be sucked up for now. Aircraft are the quickest things to redeploy after all.
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