UK Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

We've all been saying this for years, FINALLY the mainstream media is cottoning on. Tomorrow however, they will only be interested in talking about some talentless 'celebrity' who has been photographed screwing some other non entity...
I'm suspecting somebody realized they couldn't pay for two supercarriers, F-35Bs purchased AND upgraded by dozens (for the two supercarriers to make sense (if they still could)), and escorts for said supercarriers and F-35Bs (worth fortune), even after Defence budget increases for the first time in six years
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anyway here's I think the most critical NavalToday (which normally adores anything related to Western Navies) article I've ever seen:
UK’s “woefully low” escort fleet could shrink even further, report says
A UK Defence Committee Report has said that the Ministry of Defence will have to devise a sound plan for replacing its 13 ageing frigates while maintaining the already low number of operational vessels in the fleet.

The report calls for the National Shipbuilding Strategy, due to be published this week, to provide the necessary detail on how and when the Royal Navy’s new frigates will be delivered.

Without that information, the Strategy can be little more than a collection of aspirations, the report says.

The Defence Committee further called for the upcoming Strategy to set out a detailed timeline for the delivery of the Type 26 global combat ships and the Type 31 general purpose frigates. It suggests a comprehensive assessment of the potential to build a new complex warship every two years should be made.

The Royal Navy’s existing Type 23 frigates will be replaced by eight Type 26 and at least five general purpose frigates. The first Type 23, HMS Argyll, is due out of service in 2023, followed by the other twelve at annual intervals until HMS St Albans is withdrawn in 2035.

The Type 26 programme has already experienced delays and if further occur, the current total of 13 frigates—already an historic low—will fall even further, the report noted.

The Defence Committee has also asked about how the construction timetable for the general purpose frigate will align with that of the Type 26. It added that it was vital to know which European examples, whether it be the French Aquitaine-class, or the Danish Absalon-class frigates, the MoD has considered as being suitable templates for the GPFF.

The fact that the MoD is being forced to refit the engines of all six Type 45 destroyers following a series of engine failures which resulted from major shortcomings in specification, design and testing for which blame can be attributed both to the MoD and its contractors, the report said adding that the taxpayer will have to foot the bill for the work.

Dr Julian Lewis, Defence Committee chairman, said: “The National Shipbuilding Strategy offers the potential not just to manage this work efficiently and effectively, but also to reverse the trend of ever-decreasing numbers. To do this, however, it has to contain the degree of detail and scheduling for which we have asked.”

“The Ministry of Defence must deliver this programme of modernisation on time. If it fails to do so, the Government will break its categorical pledge to maintain at least 19 frigates and destroyers—already a pathetically low total. The United Kingdom will then lack the maritime strength to deal with the threats we face right now, let alone in the future. We are putting the MoD on notice that it must not let this happen.”
source (dated November 21, 2016):
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Monday at 7:13 AM
if somebody thought I sounded alarming:
...
15702574-large.jpg

Posted: November 23, 2016
NATO warship towed back to Plymouth - just two days after leaving Devonport
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Type 26 Frigates:Written question - 53478

Q
Asked by
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(Portsmouth South)
Asked on: 16 November 2016
Ministry of Defence
Type 26 Frigates
53478
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with what anti-ship armament the Class 26 frigate will be equipped.

A
Answered by:
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Answered on: 23 November 2016

The Vertical Launch Silo that will be fitted to the Type 26 Global Combat Ship (GCS) will have the flexibility to utilise a variety of missiles depending on the threat, mission and future Defence decisions.

In addition, my hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Sir Michael Fallon) announced on 4 November 2016 that a £100 million contract has been placed to deliver the Sea Ceptor self-defence missile system for the Type 26 GCS. The Type 26 will be fitted with the Sea Ceptor missile system and a 5" Medium Calibre Gun, both of which can contribute to the anti-ship capability of the maritime task group.

EDIT
at first I didn't want to add anything, but now I highlighted
future Defence decisions.
which will be NOT to order Mk 41 VLS ... is my guess, for the SDF record, portended by
Nov 17, 2016
...

CxcvAfAXAAAEHuj.jpg

(reportedly this is the most recent official graphics ... it would've boasted Mk41 if the plan had been to install any, I guess ...
 
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Army to slash frontline tanks
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Army chiefs are planning to slash the number of frontline tanks by up to a third, leaving Britain with fewer tanks than Serbia.

Under the plan, one of the army’s three tank regiments will see all its 56 Challenger 2s replaced with Ajax fighting vehicles. The cut would leave the army with only about 40 more tanks than traditionally neutral Switzerland. At the other end of the scale, Russia has 2,700 tanks.

The plan, due to be announced in coming months, has alarmed serving and retired commanders and comes as Russia introduces the T-14 Armata — a new generation of tank that some experts believe has the firepower to defeat any British or American equivalent.

Colonel Bob Stewart, who led British forces in Bosnia, said:…

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no, it was enough
 
"Difficult decisions had to be taken to balance the books and retiring the Harpoon missile system was one. That weapon was reaching the end of its life, which is why we are exploring the advanced technologies that will take its place. Last month the Royal Navy held the largest international gathering of autonomous systems ever staged, and we will shortly trial both an energy weapon and artificial intelligence at sea. These are the technologies that will maintain our superiority over more conventional navies."

Lord in Heaven! they can't afford OTH AShMs, but "will shortly trial an energy weapon and artificial intelligence at sea"
what-if-they-had-to-go-to-war-NOW?!

The navy replies to avalanche of bad news stories
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Obi Wan Russell

Jedi Master
VIP Professional
"

Lord in Heaven! they can't afford OTH AShMs, but "will shortly trial an energy weapon and artificial intelligence at sea"
what-if-they-had-to-go-to-war-NOW?!"

'Now' would be mostly Ok, because Harpoon isn't going until 2018, and in any case the RN's primary Anti Ship Weapon has been for the last 80+ years and will continue to be the Submarine launched torpedo. I don't agree with the decision to retire Harpoon without replacement, but it's not as bad as it looks. If we can use this decision to expose the Government's stupid penny pinching attitude to Defence then some good comes of it, and there are signs they are starting to realise the fleet is too small, hence talk of 5+ T31s for the future and extra OPVs. It's a small start, but it is in the right direction.
 
"

Lord in Heaven! they can't afford OTH AShMs, but "will shortly trial an energy weapon and artificial intelligence at sea"
what-if-they-had-to-go-to-war-NOW?!"

'Now' would be mostly Ok, because Harpoon isn't going until 2018, and in any case the RN's primary Anti Ship Weapon has been for the last 80+ years and will continue to be the Submarine launched torpedo. I don't agree with the decision to retire Harpoon without replacement, but it's not as bad as it looks. If we can use this decision to expose the Government's stupid penny pinching attitude to Defence then some good comes of it, and there are signs they are starting to realise the fleet is too small, hence talk of 5+ T31s for the future and extra OPVs. It's a small start, but it is in the right direction.
I strongly disagree with pretty much everything you've said (except perhaps what's somehow included in your post which is RN subs had provided a very efficient screen during the Falklands War) , so at first I thought I would simply leave it, but now I changed my mind:
the article I posted above
The navy replies to avalanche of bad news stories
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quotes the current First Sea Lord, who is a successor of, just names which come to my mind quickly: Fraser! Jellicoe! Beatty! Cunnigham!, and who should have said ENOUGH! what a Navy is this supposed to be?! BUT INSTEAD he fools (whom?) with "will shortly trial an energy weapon and artificial intelligence at sea" while he needs armed ships, as in WARSHIPS

end of rant
 
as far as I know, for so called Type 31 Frigate (in addition to "Avenger" and "Cutlass"
https://www.sinodefenceforum.com/uk-military-news-reports-data-etc.t2437/page-187#post-412518
designs which are just kinda oversized OPVs though) "Venator 110" is considered, and I noticed the webpage describing it had been updated; it's
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and you may download the brochure
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my point? NO MENTIONING OF ASW still:
Aug 28, 2016
... no ASW capabilities on this one either!! OK except of a helo ...
so, to me, this view:
YniOV.jpg
is pretty scary

EDIT I also repeat
...
the numbers are unclear at this point (but eight, plus those eight Type 26, would be needed just to replace Type 23)
anyway
 
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