bladerunner
Banned Idiot
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Last edited:
Some good news at last:
Summary:
No slash and burn defence cuts
Both Carriers completed
switch from STOVL F-35B to CTOL F-35C
rolling two year review
helicopter numbers reduced
Out of the Stan by 2015.
Seems reality has finally got through to the ConDems!
Summary:
No slash and burn defence cuts
Both Carriers completed
switch from STOVL F-35B to CTOL F-35C
rolling two year review
helicopter numbers reduced
Out of the Stan by 2015.
Seems reality has finally got through to the ConDems!
Still just rumours at the moment, but my gut feeling is the 'C will mean a return to RN control of the CAGs, and much more sea time than currently is the case. Converteam are developing EMALS technology in the UK in parallell with the US (as a backup plan B) so we shall have to wait and see. The CVFs are designed to take more GTs/diesel generators to increase power if required, a far sighted inclusion in the original brief I think...
That is interesting news. However, what about the news then that the UK is spending $13M to intorduce a "rolling vertical landing system" in the 'B to improve it's non arrested landing capability on carries?
See below:
Another backup plan? I guess customers like the italiens for the Cavour or so might have use for it, though.
Also, any hints yet what the floating commando platform might look like? A small welldeck perhaps for waterborne assaults plus more helo capability?
SRVL has been around as a concept for a few years now (VAAC two seat Harrier doing landing trials on CdG a couple of years ago), and the contract for further development has been in the works for a while too, whereas the recent report of the switch to the 'C is only a couple of days old. The USMC are still going ahead with the 'B and SRVL will be just as useful to them as the Spanish and the Italians.
Neutral Zone
Junior Member
It's starting to sound a lot more encouraging for the RN, call me a cynic but I suspect that a lot of the bleaker scenarios that appeared in the press were part of the usual Whitehall tactic of conducting budget negotiations through the media.
I'll not finally believe it until I see HMS Queen Elizabeth on deployment with a wing of F-35's on deck but it looks like I'm finally going to see a CTOL carrier flying The White Ensign!
I'll not finally believe it until I see HMS Queen Elizabeth on deployment with a wing of F-35's on deck but it looks like I'm finally going to see a CTOL carrier flying The White Ensign!
