It's funny we didn't even bother to have an FCAS thread, and it's already basically dead in the water. Let's hold off on a GCAP thread unless there is tangible progress. France-Germany-Spain are NATO allies and close culturally and same time zone. UK-Italy-Japan are even more disparate linguistically, culturally, and working style wise as you can get. Just the time zone difference would be a massive challenge.
There is always the Fan Art thread.
Lethe
Captain
Browsing through Norman Friedman's British Submarines in the Cold War era, the gulf between the realities and ambitions of yesteryear and those of today is always striking:
Today the Royal Navy has no SSKs and only six SSNs in service, and there are at least occasions where are at sea.
GCAP seems to have a lot more momentum behind it than FCAS, I doubt that it's going to fizzle out. Japan's involvement is novel to be sure, but the UK and Italy have a long history of collaboration, not only with previous European combat aircraft projects such as Typhoon and Tornado, but also helicopters (AgustaWestland), the common heritage of Type 45/Horizon and EMPAR/SAMPSON, etc. Given the multinational nature of the project and its significance for each of the national partners, I think a dedicated thread could be justified rather than having piecemeal updates scattered across various threads.
Today the Royal Navy has no SSKs and only six SSNs in service, and there are at least occasions where are at sea.
GCAP seems to have a lot more momentum behind it than FCAS, I doubt that it's going to fizzle out. Japan's involvement is novel to be sure, but the UK and Italy have a long history of collaboration, not only with previous European combat aircraft projects such as Typhoon and Tornado, but also helicopters (AgustaWestland), the common heritage of Type 45/Horizon and EMPAR/SAMPSON, etc. Given the multinational nature of the project and its significance for each of the national partners, I think a dedicated thread could be justified rather than having piecemeal updates scattered across various threads.
Last edited:
I would also be very surprised if GCAP fizzles out, seems like some budgetary snags at the moment which are pretty common for projects this expensive. With the erratic nature of the U.S. and apparent weakening of Europe-US military alliances, I would be shocked if it ended up falling through, it's an extremely important project for Italian, Japanese, and British aerospace companies.
Instead of a GCAP specific thread, it might be better to create a thread for Non US and Chinese Next Generation Aircraft. That way it can include discussion for GCAP, FCAS, and whatever Russia ends up doing.
Instead of a GCAP specific thread, it might be better to create a thread for Non US and Chinese Next Generation Aircraft. That way it can include discussion for GCAP, FCAS, and whatever Russia ends up doing.
Distrust of politicians and taking funds away from high end warships.
It would make it (at least) twice as expensive to procure and operate, adding absolutely nothing to its primary presence role.
At that point, it will cost close to type 31 GP(colonial really) frigate - which does more or less the thing up-armed River will be able to, just much better.
Lethe
Captain
For European navies especially, personnel numbers and costs are often the single greatest limiting factor. Small combatants aren't great from that perspective, at least those with higher-end sensors and capabilities that each require more specialised crew to operate and maintain. Better to stick those scarce skillsets on a more flexible frigate.