Ah, but we are getting a 24/7 deployed operational capability for a white flag waver based on the cliffs of Dover.
So not all bad.
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Thereās talk of a replacement/s, I reckon the replacement for AS90 will be truck based like the French system, and what happens regarding a LG replacement will probably depend on how the Future Commando Force works out.
If 29 Cdo Regt remains to support the RMās acting as an amphibious Bde then there will probably be a new light gun, but if not they are unlikely to buy one just to support 16 air assault.
It certainly needs to be done. Thereās wagons out there that are older than me, and Iām not exactly a spring chicken.
Certainly, if the mainstream programmes could learn something from the better UOR acquisitions (Jackal?) Defence would be all the better for it. Tempest seems to be on the right lines, but itās still over the horizon stuff.
Do they mean the type 31. Navy is already āgettingā 5 of those, could it be just confirmation of the 5 or are they getting a total of 10 31s or a mix of 31 and and the more capable and expensive 26s
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Type 32ās are in the mix as wellā¦
32s. Whether those are a T31v2, or a new hull, is tbc.
There was talk of the T45s being replaced by larger frigates in due course, so it could be double counting. Hope not.
The rumour was T45 being replaced once the T26 are built and using the same hull design.
The line between destroyers and frigates now are pretty blurred during the Cold War
Frigate = anti submarine
Destroyer = anti aircraft
Now itās anti everythingā¦
The US destroyers are fitted out also for minesweeping duties now.
The T26 being built for Canada will be in 2 groups
1 anti submarine and the other anti aircraft
I think that could be the plan for the T45 replacement same hull different kit.
The announcement today was for 5 additional frigates, On order are
8 type 26
5 type 31
Given they said ordering type 32 then that may be the additional 5.
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No, Iām hoping they swap the pumas out with new build merlins. They are big capable beasts so it would provide work and a common airframe.
Will a commando force of the future require a light gun though?
The T26 frigates and destroyers are at some point to be upgraded i thought to 155mm main guns to do more shore bombardment of required.
Judging buy Wikipedia the type 32s are going to be years and years down the road and sound a little like pie in the sky.
The Puma were bought as a Wessex replacement for NI. They could fly into police stations, Merlin and Chinook are too big. If the PIRA kick off they will be needed. The was a reason 230 sqn was based in Aldergrove.
RAF need mid sized transports for Spec ops etc. Bigger is not always better. AW 169 would be a good puma replacement. Hercs need to be kept, the airframes are not that old and the pumas has just been upgraded to HC2 standard a few years ago so should be good for a few years yet.
No chance
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No one is quite sure how FCF is going to end upā¦
If it becomes - as the RM seem to want - massively dispersed all around the world, then the Army will want to withdraw the support - artillery, engineers and logs because the thing they are supporting, a Bde sized amphibious force, wonāt be doable.
There has long been talk of re-roling a light inf Bde as an amphibious Bde and leaving on the RMās to do what they like.
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Never say neverā¦
But we can only hope
Or go towed and buy 777s.
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I have a funny feeling you will see the Bae design for the type 31 as the basis for the type 32.
It was meant to be built in Liverpool, not at the Bae yards on the Clyde to spread the work also Bae and Thales have been pushing the automated systems for minesweeping and other tasks so perhaps this maybe the answer
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I have heard a rumour that Puma replacement is being looked at. Nh90 or aw169. Be interesting to see if it happens. I donāt think the Hercules fleet will go, at least not til A400 is fully able to do everything that the Hercules can do.
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Truck based for 16 AAB? AS90 replacement programme was pushed back. Interestingly Norway switched from (a planned buy of) the Archer wheeled system to the Korean K9. The new Paladin looks impressive too with its long range capabilities.
Towed is too slow to deploy and prone to counter battery, for the ETO anyway.
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Do you think we would consider the Panzerhaubitze?
Didnāt we try that with FH70?
With a vw engine so it could move short distances