Time for another info-drop thread. I've done some ones previously based around the British, been wanting to do another one for a while. This time, focusing on the future acquirements, technologies and purchases of the British Forces. A few of these may already be in service but are gaining new capabilities, or may have just entered service and are still worth mentioning as they continue to be delivered or make their first impressions on the field.
I'll go through the British Army first, then Royal Air Force and then ending with the Senior Service, the Royal Navy.
Previous threads, which I've finally managed to locate, their pictures are long gone I'm afraid, but the infos still there:
Combat Engineering of the British Armed Forces
https://desustorage.org/k/thread/20812328/
Lesser Known Equipment of the British Armed Forces
https://desustorage.org/k/thread/25927611/
>>30321489
We'll kick this off with the Ajax.
A family of medium weight vehicles being acquired for the British Army, Ajax ranges from 36-42 tons, depending on variant.
The one pictured here is titled the same as the family, "Ajax". A force recce vehicle, it's armed with a CT40 cannon (Case Telescopic 40mm) and a Protector RWS up top. (More on them later, if you're wondering about ATGMs). It's also got an 805hp engine, so it is pretty nippy.
Heavily protected for a vehicle that isn't an MBT, it's designed for heavier battlefields than legacy designs, and for engaging the growing protectiveness and size of opposing AFVs. But its primary capability is its ISTAR and Networking.
Equipped with infrared, long range sensor suites, acoustic detectors, CBRN detectors, external cameras and a whole range of reconnaisance packages, it can stream all that information through a 20GB/s open network infrastrucutre to any other "open" equipped squad, vehicle or aerial asset. Because of this, it can sent images, video, sound or include information on the maps and command systems of allied units at extremely long ranges, controlling what everyone is seeing and link to GEOPINT assets.
If that sounds like a load of jargon, see it as effectively an AWACS on the ground. This information can also be used to direct air strikes and artillery.
There are 589 vehicles in the Ajax family on order, to enter service in 2017. More on the variants in a moment.
>>30321551
The full family of Ajax vehicles is broken down as such:
>245 turreted 'Ajax' variants
198 Reconnaissance and Strike (Ajax)
23 Joint Fire Control (Ajax)
24 Ground Based Surveillance (Ajax)
>256 Protected Mobility Recce Support (PMRS) variants
59 Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) (Ares)
112 Command and Control(Athena)
34 Formation Reconnaissance Overwatch (Ares)
51 Engineer Reconnaissance (Argus)
>88 Engineering variants based on the PMRS
38 Recovery vehicles (Atlas)
50 Repair vehicles (Apollo)
The vehicle in the picture here is the "Ares" variant, an armoured personnel carrier that can load between 3-8 men, depending on the modular compartment's contents. Built to carry UGVs or carry heavy specialist weaponry (Javelin teams, Starstreak Batteries) the amount carried can heavily vary, but it forms a much more heavily armoured vehicle to carry recce infantry in. There are 256 APC variants in total, with 245 turreted combat vehicles, and 88 engineering vehicles.
The engineering vehicles show the grunt of the engine very well, in Austrian trials (Given the ASCOD chassis) one pulled an SK-105, an ASCOD IFV and a truck loaded with numerous tons of steel for 200km all at once. The British Army loves their engineering, so no wonder.
In many ways, the Ajax family with the open network infrastructure and ISTAR kit either on or in the vehicle is much like how F-35's are intended to network around the battlefield. Known elements to be linked to this system are Ajax, Foxhound, Challenger 2, Watchkeeper, Exactor, F-35 and certain infantry teams. This will only be expanded to each new fleet as they turn up. It's quite similar to the French Scorpion program, just with a satellite network overhead from Skynet.
>>30321601
Hot on the heels of the Ajax in 2017, the new Warrior IFV upgrade program is due to begin deliveries in 2018.
The list of upgrades are quire numerous, but mostly centred on an entirely new and much larger turret mounting a fully stabalised CT40 cannon, the same as Ajax. Both vehicles will have APFSDS and Programmable Rounds for airbursting, structure penetration, standard HE and anti-air. In both Ajax and Warrior, all cannon rounds are kept completely externally from the crew.
In addition to the turret, the Warrior will receive armour module upgrades, a new spall liner, new blast resistant seats and flooring, connection to the Open Network Infrastructure (forgot to include it above) and new sights and cameras for the troops and crew inside.
At the moment the exact numbers have condradicting sources, mostly because of the next entry.
>>30321652
The "ABSV" program is one flying quite under the radar, but it's one intended to replace the FV432 APC in British Army service.
Essentially a turretless Warrior, it is intended to be modified from the Warriors that already didn't have turrets (Such as the recovery ones no longer needed due to Atlas) or those that don't get the new cannon. So you can see where the numbers confusion comes from, given they are both "Warrior" and no-one knows how many CT40's the Army is intending to buy in future. The first group will equip around 270 Warriors, but after that no-one knows. Likely for SDSR 2020.
This program would include turretless Warriors being converted into APCs, Armoured Ambulances and (as pictured) 81mm Mortar Carriers, among other versions. A significant upgrade, given the Warriors superior protection and mobility over the FV432.
>>30321704
The MVR-P program is one to replace a great number of individual vehicles in the British Army, including many of the UORs bought for Afghanistan. The initial core of this is 400 Foxhounds already in service, however there are around 2,000 others to be purchased to bring the entire Army to a common protected vehicle of heavier weight and right now the question is "which platform?"
Vehicles like the Pinzgauer, leftover Land Rover Snatches and eventually the Husky will be replaced with hopefully a common platform with modified chassis'. That would be why pic related is a picture of a Foxhound instead of a photo of a real one, this is the extended Foxhound to carry 6 men instead of 4 (not counting 2 crew in either case). It's an appealing option, and General Dynamics has made it clear that they could produce a "more affordable" variant, given the standard Foxhound is at the bleeding edge of smaller MRAPs and may not be suitable for such a large program as it is with its expensive composite armour and open network connectivity.
This program would have multiple phases for different versions, which Foxhound is well positioned for with its large module on the back, already cargo hauler and WMIK versions exist, for example.
However, a new challenger appears! In the last week, it was reported that a contender has arrived, namely the US JLTV. The appeal of a large mass production line seems to gave given it a chance at the contract, and it will be interesting to watch Foxhound and JLTV compare advantages of home industry vs cost on two newer platforms.
>>30321767
The Royal Artillery is getting a new anti-air system to replace Rapier for SHORAD duty, however in this case they're extending the range by quite a bit.
A new palletised anti-air vertical launch system using the CAMM (Common-Anti-Air-Modular-Missile) has been nicknamed "Land Ceptor" and is set for British Army service later this decade. Paired with newly purchased Giraffe radars (bolstering the existing ones), it provides 360 degrees of air protection within an intended reach of "over 25km". A significant boost over the 8.2km of the Rapier. However, it's been reported that CAMM is capable of up to 60km (Thats not the ER variant either) so the real reach may be substantially further. The missile trravels at mach 3 and has an active seeker with a two-way datalink, meaning that it doesn't require terminal guidance from the launching area, going a long way to preventing detection of the launcher.
With 12 missiles per module, it can be mounted on MAN trucks or even just mounted in a base free of any vehicle. CAMM is soft-launched, so it required no downward blast protection, hence being able to fit on literally anything that can carry it.
The first place to acquire these will be the Falkland Islands. Because the British do love a good Argentinian freakout to spice up the papers.
Quick video to show how simple it is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3q_nFSL_0vU
>>30321818
Dropping the scale down quite a bit, the British Army will be receiving new NATO 7.62mm rounds developed in the UK at the arms factory in Radbury Green as the "High Performance 7.62mm".
Imaginative name.
It features around twice the range to achieve penetration than the Standard Ball ammunition, enhancing ability against light aircraft, vehicles and (the most intended target) structures. This will be rolled out to the full breadth of the British Forces.
>>30321852
Above I mentioned that Remote-Weapon-Systems would be getting some attention with the UK.
The intended future RWS is the Kongsberg Protector, however a notable addition to it, sponsered by the British Army, is the Javelin missile, allowing for any capable vehicle to attain ATGMs very quickly and easily.
I should state that the one pictured here is not the exact pattern to be used and is an older, "clunkier" variant. The one being tested is allegedly a lot more streamlined, possibly capable of holding two missiles instead of one. There are no images yet, but one has been fixed to a Spartan CVRT APC for testing.
The Javelin missile used received a 100% hit rate in testing from the Spartan, and reached out to 4.3km, almsot doubling a Javelin's normal range.
Compatible vehicles for this would include Ajax, Warrior, CVRT, FV432, Challenger 2, Foxhound, Mastiff, Wolfhound and Ridgeback, along with whatever the new MIV produces. So ATGMs could be very easily spread to any element of a force, light or heavy.
>>30321898
Forgot to include, here's a GIF of the Javelin firing from the Spartan in testing. Would make a handy little ATGM carrier.
https://twitter.com/Raytheon/status/743006191404634113/photo/1
Next up is the new protection system for the infantry, which just entered service this year, Virtus.
In Afghanistan, the Osprey set was effective and very well protected, however it simply was too heavy and soldiers found themselves suffering from exhaustion after prolonged engagements (moreso than usual!). Immediately, a new system was put to commission to requip the entire Army (and Royal Marines and RAF Reg eventually)
Vastly lighter than Osprey, it retains the same protection with new materials design and allows for soldiers to be far more agile. Tight to the body, it aims to reduce fumbling around your own kit and is extremely modular for the user to customise to their needs. The back features a supported weight system, which can adjust where the weight distribution is on the bergen, decreasing the wear on the soldier over long distances. The system also includes pelvic protection, blast resistance underwear, a new helmet and a full face helmet addition for vehicle crews or static defence posts.
There's allegedly been a few kinks needing sorted since the Army got ahold of it, but it's all being fed through for the next batch. Anyone who thought they could give a squaddie so much new stuff and have them NOT find a problem would have to be in denial. "Squaddie proof" is a literally impossible concept.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh60QG_ZZBM
>>30321962
The L82A2 (Of the SA80 family) will be receiving further upgrades and retooling, as it is intended to service at least out to 2025. Already finished are the new rail system, new Elcan sights, top mounted red dit, grip-pod module and polymer magazines. In addition, the new laser-light-module, the Vario-Ray has entered service which featured much enhanced range.
Future upgrades will include a weight reduction pass to drop it by a further 15%, along with a new flash-hider on the barrel.
>>30322010
The L123A1 UGL on the L85A2 will also be receiving a bit of love. The 40mm grenades are here to stay, but the ultimate aim as part of the ongoing FIST program is to re-equip them with laser guided targeters. The original version of this did actually work and was deployed, but it was far too front heavy on the rifle. A new one is being developed to reduce that, and ultimately is intended to allow for airbursting 40mm grenades using it, in a similar manner to the XM-25's firing system.
It's a program that has gotten very little attention, despite its powerful potential.
>>30322036
The Crow Cannon is back!
The L86A2, contray to many thoughts, never actually left service. It just got replaced in forward deployed units by the Minimi or L129 DMR. It stayed in service back in the UK for training, reserve units and Army Regiments who weren't in a direct war zone.
However, as the British Army contemplates wars that would include more than 10,000 men being deployed, the need for the L86A2 to make its presence felt grew again. There aren't enough L129's to go around every single squad after all. They were purchased for a 10,000 man operation and the Sniper No.2's took most of them anyway.
As such, the L86A2 has a significant upgrade. In pic related you can see a standard L86A2 at the top, and an L129 DMR at the bottom. In between is the "new" L86. Designed to focus far more on the DMR role, it actually outperformed a 7.62mm rifle at a range during testing, both fired by the same man.
It seems the Crow Cannon will live on, in a very different look.
Nice series post OP, very much like Planefag's threads
>>30322074
The AS-90 is the UK's 155mm SPG in the Royal Artillery. Designed as a private initiative to sneak in around the maligned SP-70 program, it ended up being an excellent platform. An upgrade to an L52 gun however never got the green light due to insensitive munition issues, leaving it to merely become a "good" SPG since then. Solid, capable, but nothing to set the world on fire.
Finally, however, with more focus on artillery development for contempary war, it is due a little love in the form of guided munitions, which are currently being tested this year at some unknown point.
The base level upgrade will be to equip its standard rounds with a guided kit (Likely a US one) with the ultimate aim to find a proper dedicated guided munition to extend the range. This could be Excalibur, sure, however something much more interesting cropped up that they may be considering the BAE HVP (Hyper-Velocity Projectile) in order to have a common logistics train with the Navy for some munitions parts (Just some, not all, as the 127mm HVM is a bit different.)
The HVP would increase the range out to somewhere between 60-80km, the HVMs brochure isn't exactly clear which calibre length is which. But most importantly is that this round would actually travel at vastly faster speeds than any other existing round, decreasing time to target substantially.
This is the same round they're targeting at the USN's railgun requirement, after all.
It's still VERY much rumourmilling though, as no guided munition has been selected, but it emerged purely because the Royal Navy wants the HVP so it may be on its way to Britain anyway.
>>30322169
The Westland AH-1 Apache has been an excellent bit of kit for the Army. It was by far the most devastating weapon against the Taliban and even got a hand in against Gaddafi from HMS Ocean, oweing to the AH-1's naval upgrades over the AH-64D. With its more powerful Rolls-Royce Engines and enhanced airframe, it was often considered the best Apache variant around.
The AH-64E changed that, and as the British Army needs a new helo after they ran the AH-1 into the ground in flight hours for Afghan, the timing could not possibly be better for the switch to the AH-64E, of which the British will be receiving 50. The AH-64E features better engines than even the Rolls ones on the AH-1, UAV compatibility and a whole host of upgrades.
But the interesting thing is, once again they seem determined to push the envelope.
The AH-64E's are rebuilds from the AH-1's, as the British are very keen to maintain the arctic hardening, naval upgrades and powered folding rotors from the originals. In addition, tests begin to upgrade the Hellfire for the Brimstone missile, capable of 40km reach and networked convoy attacks. /k/ has seen the "Brimstone capability" description a thousand times so I'll keep it brief here, that it would allow the Apaches to launch 24 missile strong networked swarms of self guiding and targeting missiles.
The price also seems pretty cheap, given the British Army got in right at the tail end of an already existing massive order by the US Army. Like was said above, the timing could not possibly have been more perfect.
>>30321852
>Imaginative name.
Well to be fair, they uses all their naming efforts getting A-names that match each of the roles of the Ajax variants
>The British Army loves their engineering
This is true, pic related.
I do love that our satellite network is called Skynet though, that's just great
Thanks for an informative thread
quality thread man much appreciated
as a side-note im curious as to how well a British /meg/ thread would go
>>30322225
The UKSF is due to have its budget DOUBLED very soon, and there are endless chatters about the things they could get. UKSF have been seen flying around in US V-22 Osprey's (Likely just for training), testing quadbikes that turn into waterskis (if you believe tabloids) and loads of new guns have been individually spotted, far more to go into than I will do so, especially given the dubious sources. RAF Reapers have allegedly even had UKSF connected upgrades that got hastily removed from circulation lending a little bit of truth, as no US Reaper had ever been seen with such a thing attached to the fuselage.
So I'm not even going to try and figure out just what the hells going on with them right now. However one thing I have seen was that the C8 Carbines used by the UKSF (as the L119) have been allegedly put forward for an upgrade to L119A2.
There is no real known details of this, but I spotted this image related to it. Make of it what you will, but this entry is better stated to say that the UKSF is going to be getting some very interesting toys in the coming years to speculate over.
>>30322272
Couldn't really be kept up, there's not enough of us on this board. I'd happily share with /meg/ anyway.
I've posted before about adding stuff to the OP for joining the British armed forces and had a positive response from the /meg/ guys -- its just I forget to add it to the OP.
>>30322286
The Challenger 2 is due for its upgrade to last it out until 2035 very soon, with Main Gate next year and trials out to 2019 of technologies. No delivery date is settled, but the contents of the upgrade are for the most part known by now.
The tank has had numerous upgrade programs, none of the major ones ever completing fully, although it did have a great number of "in field" modifications. New thermal cameras on front and rear for the driver, a remote weapon station, Israeli ERA for the hull and turret sides, cage armour, a massive block of Dorchester composite for the lower glacis, Dorchester belly armour and upgraded hydrogas suspension.
The new program will be to upgrade 227 tanks (The forward fleet, although around 287 are in service at the moment) with a new FCS, C4I for the TC, connection to the Open Network Infrastructure, new Dorchester plates for the sides, 3rd generation hydrogas suspension and new thermal sights for the gunner. New ammunition is also being worked on.
Each of the competitors for the upgrade program have also stated they have provided "additional upgrades" to be pitched to the MoD. No details on what any of them are at current. BAE's one is almost certainly a 1,500hp engine though. Other competitors, no idea.
>>30322351
What the fuck is that platform on the back of the turret?
That upgrade is in Armored Warfare as well, and it looks absolutely retarded with the platform on top.
>>30322386
Extra downforce.
>>30322419
Sure.
>ERA cage only covers 1/4 of the front of the vehicle
I bet the driver loves that the cage stops right in front of where he sits.
>>30322351
And to round off the British Army (of the major elements, there are numerous smaller things not worth dedicating a post to right now) there is a look forward to the next massive purchase to be made, the MIV program.
As Ajax came out of SV which came out of FRES SV which case out of FRES...(lets stop before it gets ridiculous) the MIV came out of FRES UV. The requirement is for an 8x8 APC to fulfill a number of roles in taking over for the Mastiff and allowing for a rapid force to deploy, backed up by the heavier elements with Warrior and Ajax.
Boxer, VBCI and Piranha all were tested before and none were found to match requirements, leading wonder to just how unreasonably high the requirements were. However, since then, VBCI has revealed a newer variant that fixes the issues (The British thought the VBCI was too lightly armoured, had too wide a turn radius and didn't have the best maintanence design) while, more notably, General Dynamics brought the LAV-D (Light Armoured Vehicle Demonstrator) based on the LAV chassis to Britain and did a south coast to Scotland non-stop run to prove its reliability. It's the one in the image of this post.
It's already set up for many of the British Army's requirements and has a vastly higher "made in UK" component list than the VBCI. The VBCI however is already integrated with the CT40. So both have possible claims, however the favourite is currently set on the LAV owing to its superior performance thus far in trials that have come before (Bearing in mind how Piranha and LAV are so closely related in almost all ways).
The initial order will be for 300 vehicles, with more coming after. No timescale other than "Early 2020."
Very little is actually being removed without replacement now. There's some kinks to watch out for, but overall the British Army has a very solid future going forward with (finally) a proper plan in place.
>>30322386
It's a combination of radio, network connection antenna and IED countermeasures.
>>30322448
Moving into the RAF, might as well start with the current showcase plane of the air force, the Typhoon.
In a much applauded relief, the Tranche 1 Typhoons will be retained in service for QRF duties on the home islands. Between 24-53 Tranche 1's will be retained. The UK will thus have around 130-160 Typhoons as the core of their fleet past 2019.
The Tranche 2 and 3's though, are set for much greater things. The CAPTOR-E AESA radar will be delivered soon, Combining a large 1,500 t/r module plate with a 200+ degrees traversable mount, it's almost unique in its field of regard. (Only the Gripen's is similar in design) The ability to fire a Meteor two-way datalinked missile and then turn away with such a wide view of the air around it will be a cornerstone capability in A2A.
They will also be upgraded with Storm Shadow cruise missiles, with both Storm Shadow and Meteor entering service in 2017 on Typhoon. Brimstone II will be delivered the year after. Beyond that could include the Spear "mini-cruise missile" in 2025. More on that below. They've already received the Praetorian ECM upgrade, with additional fuselage modifications for increased agility perhaps coming along soon. The Striker II helmet is also be on the way, which integrates NVGs into the helmet itself above the pilot's head through a camera, and offers a much larger field of view, that is simply toggled on and off, removing the need to wear any goggles at all. Striker II also beings augmented reality displays into the fold, a first for any aircraft helmet.
Although the UK doesn't use them, the MARTE-ER ASM, Reccelite Recon Pod and TAURUS and SOM cruise missiles are also due for integration soon.
>>30322545
The A400M Atlas joined RAF service last year, with around 7-8 delivered now, a total of 22 in total to come to the RAF over the coming years.
Previously intended to replace the C-130, the increase in Special Forces budget and operational requirements have led it to instead complement it, offering a medium between the RAF C-17's and the C-130's. You can see the size comparisons here. While C-17 carries over 70 tons, and C-130 around 20, the A400M carries about 37.
Given the increasing vehicle weights to around and just over 30 tons, it's no wonder it's a relief for the C-17 fleet by taking things that the C-130 can no longer do, freeing it up for more specific operations.
The UK Forces have always had a powerful logistics capability, probably the second best in NATO. That just got a big air-lift jump with this plane, as delayed as it was.
>>30322580
This isn't exactly a "new platform", but the RAF has been re-entering the SIGINT game from the air, by purchasing three RC-135 Rivet Joints from the USAF. Codenamed "Airseeker" in UK service, they were flown almost directly into a theatre after being delivered, with two arriving ahead of schedule. The third is due in 2018.
They've already made an impact, as the only other country operating these powerful electronic warfare planes in the world, the RAF has created havoc for ISIS in Libya, shutting down their entire communications more than once to demoralise them and hamper their coordination.
>>30322599
The A330 Voyager entered service a while ago, but it is this year that the 14th and final one will enter service.
The Voyager is a massive air tanker, larger than most worldwide, and can also double as a troop transport, carrying 291 personnel. Possible future upgrades include a boom for refuelling other types of aircraft, but the one confirmed upgrade is that one Voyager will be converted to also function as a "Dave-Force-One" of sorts, for the Prime Minister, along with the Royals if needs be. This will not be a permenant change, but a modular addition that can be used if required.
Thank you for taking the time to post all this info, I find it really helpful since I know next to nothing about the modern British Armed Forces.
>>30322635
One of the latest "big" announcements is the UK regaining MPA ability, Maritime patrol Aircraft to watch its seas, strike coasts and provide surveillance.
The UK has elected to purchase 9 P-8 Poseidon, using US weaponry (at first) and aiming to enter service in 2019. The P-8 is unique in ASW capabilities for its ability to operate at a very high altitude and featuring standoff ASW weaponry to counter the increasing threat of submarine launched SAMs in development.
The potential for mounting Storm Shadow cruise missiles on it remains open, giving the UK a "pseudo-bomber" type warplane if so, and it is highly requested by the RAF.
In addition, the "AAS" (Advanced Airborne Sensor) is likely to feature on the UK's Poseidons, the only foreign operator to do so. This exceptionally powerful system is a dual-facing AESA radar capable of tracking maritime and ground movement at once in a format that permits it to target for other platforms firing stand off weaponry. It would also allow it to conduct electronic warfare. The AAS is based off of the radar aboard the RAF's Sentinel aircraft, hence the UK's close relation to acquiring this option.
>>30322447
Guessing that may be to avoid fucking with the guns possible depression, which I'm sure will be of great comfort to the muggins sat up front.
>>30322694
The UK currently operates 10 Reapers in its UCAV fleet, the only foreign operator to have armed them (I believe, correct if I'm wrong) and used them in combat. However, owing to their success (The UK has by far the second most strikes in Iraq and Syria thanks to them) the RAF will be not just increasing, but DOUBLING their UCAV fleet starting from 2020.
The Predator B, is essentially an upgraded Reaper, with an endurance increase from 27 to 40 hours, a higher altitude and a massively increased payload.
In addition, the UK will be aiming to refit theirs with Paveway IV PGMs and Brimstone II missiles. The Predator B will be known as "Protector" in UK service, with 20 replacing the 10 Reapers.
>>30322687
British forces can be summed up fairly simply:
Not as much shit as the US
Not as much cutting edge shiny shit as the US
Enough of both to fuck with pretty much anyone else on the planet that isn't either an ally or nuclear equipped. And for the latter there's Trident.
>>30322745
One of the most exciting new UAVs for British service, and unlike anything else worldwide, the Zephyr is a "HALE" type (High Altitude Long Endurance) UAV. However that would be massively underselling just how these things operate to say just that.
Their ability can be summed up in two numerical statistics.
70,000ft flight ceiling.
3 months single flight endurance.
It's no wonder that they are known more as "Pseudo-Satellites" than UAVs.
The British have purchased 2 currently, with a third on option for testing ahead of an even larger prototype being developed with a twin-tail design. They will carry encrypted communications relays, SIGINT capability and ISTAR suites, allowing to operate as long term spy platforms. Owing to their high ceiling, solar powered nature, skeletal construction and light weight they are almost impossible to spot properly.
In many ways they are vastly superior to even spy satellites, as they can remain on station and not worry about orbits passing out of sight.
>>30322798
The RAF currently operates an Anti-Ballistic Missile radar at RAF Flyingdales. It's the largest AESA radar in the world, with a 360 degree vision area from its pyramid design, the only one of this scale in the world to do so. it's part of the overall ABM net led by the US, but operated independantly by the UK.
While details are unknown at current, the SDSR 2015 announced a second ABM radar would be build. No idea where, when or what, but it's coming.
>>30322820
Spear 3 (Or just "Spear" sometimes) is a new missile to be in service from 2025 in the RAF and Royal Navy, focused primarily on the F-35.
Essentially a mini-cruise missile, it has a reach of 140km from a turbojet powered motor, yet is small enough to fit four of them on a single pylon, or in a single internal pod of an F-35 in addition to a BVR missile. As such, an F-35 could carry 8 of them without anything external.
They are about twice the power of a Brimstone in terms of warhead, but they have all the same swarm attack, database recognition systems and self guiding nature of that awesome missile, turning "ATGM swarm" into "Cruise missile swarm."
It can also be fired from a vertical silo on a ship, and can fit inside a CAMM silo, so in theory the Type 26 could mount 48 of these sink in without even touching its own Mk41's which could quad-pack them if they wanted for 144 self guiding 140km range missiles on a single ship.
Let that number sink in for a second.
>>30322798
>3 months single flight endurance
wat
>>30322872
Not a typo.
>>30322866
The Meteor is a new BVRAAM for the RAF and Royal Navy, entering service in 2017. Powered by a throttleable ducted rocket, it can reach over Mach 4 out to over 300km and retains that speed through pretty much all of it, given its air breathing state. This perpetual speed that doesn't fall off anywhere near as quickly as traditional BVRAAMs is what gives the Meteor arguably one of the most powerful "no escape zones" of any missile around, as its kinetics after reaching the target are absolutely ferocious. tests thus far point to it having the same "aggressive chase" speeds as an SRAAM in WVR combat. If true, that is horrifying to imagine coming after you.
Combined with a two-way datalink and the UK developing an AESA seeker head with Japan, it will be a complete gamechanger in the air.
Furthermore, Italy and the UK have long term aspirations of them gaining an Anti-radiation duel-mode seeker. Both Typhoon and F-35 will mount it, the latter internally.
>>30322866
>Let that number sink in for a second.
I didnt see any budget projection numbers listed? Is it so large that Microsoft does not even recognize it?
>>30322945
The Paveway IV 500lb guided bomb is a mainstay of the UK's air power, their most commonly used munition. So it comes as no surprise it will be getting some upgrades,but the eventual idea is to turn it into a "one bomb does it all" type munition.
To this end, they are developing it to have a penetrating warhead, said to be as capable as a Paveway III 2,000lb penetrator.
In addition, it has a new active seeker head being developed for it, to allow it to automatically adjust to match a moving target.
>>30322945
The preceeding model had a few weeks (like that's not insane, holy shit), but 3 months is a bit of a step up from the first few google sources
Still, I'm getting a drone boner
Interesting to see some of the planned future for the Brimstone, given how capable it is
>>30322970
Nah, of course it'd never be put on a Type 26 in THOSE numbers, it's horrifically impractical and would take up every single silo and leave it with nothing else.
It's simply a good indicator of how easy that missile is to mount in decent numbers. it's like the ESSM/CAMM of the surface to surface world in that regard.
>>30322972
The UK currently operates 6 "Shadow" aircraft in support primarily of special forces. Very similar to the USAF's RC-12 Guardrail, they are said to have some degree of joint SIGINT and ISTAR capability, but they are some of the most secretive of all RAF planes.
Two more are being purchased to expand the fleet though, so clearly something is working.
>>30322972
>but the eventual idea is to turn it into a "one bomb does it all" type munition.
WHat is a GeneralPurpose 500lb dumb-bomb for $500, Alex?
>>30322972
>Paveway IV 500lb guided bomb
>it has a new active seeker head being developed for it, to allow it to automatically adjust to match a moving target.
wow, I never would of figured, they have a guided bomb that doesn't automatically adjust to match a moving laser designator?
Is everyone over there fuckin retarded? Or is this just how countless generations of inter-island breeding exacts its toll on the local population?
>>30321962
>distrobution
Come on lads, spelling isn't that hard
Can't wait to get my hands on the new kit though, waiting for a date for my AOSB Main Board
>>30323003
The RAF currently operates what I think is the second largest Chinook fleet in the world, with 60 airframes in service. They've been going through intense upgrades lately, with some being set to attain a "special forces" boost soon.
However, with the doubled UKSF budget, the aim to equip them with helicopter refuelling ability and then converting a few C-130's to carry it out has come up. No numbers yet, but the 14 new airframes would be the most likely for it. This would also enhance the UK's overall air-to-air refuelling state, and give a nice joint source of Chinooks for this.
If it isn't obvious yet, the RAF came off by far the best in the latest SDSR. Overall the British are headed to a good place since the cuts stopped happening and the larger budget started being added, but the RAF really came out shining this time with projects for them.
>>30323005
There's a difference between a bomb that guides to a moving designated target, and a bomb that guides itself without the designation at all. Thats why it's an active seeker, it does it on its own, and would permit drops without the designation being required past the moment of launch.
And there's general purpose, but a 500lb bomb that can match a Paveway III penetrator for penetration depth is a pretty new ability to be able to cart around in larger numbers per airframe.
>>30323030
Skynet is the UK's satellite network for communications, signals and cross-country networking. Highly capable at current and one of the few countries to have an independant one of its own, it is due to come out of its contract fairly soon (by military acquirement terms anyway).
Past this, the UK is aiming to remove it from PFI into a wholly owned version this time, and to upgrade it to have SIGINT and ISTAR ability, likely in cooperation with European companies to bring that tech into the fold, upgrading the overall ability, probably in sync with the Zephyr UAVs to act as additional nodes.
>>30323066
And finally for the RAF, of course it would be the future's big fancy bit of tech. The future UCAV.
Pictured here is Taranis, the UK's independant stealth UCAV demonstrator. It's been undergoing tests in Australia, with further flight trials soon. The UCAV will be co-developed with the French, who are bringing some of the tech from their Neuron UCAV.
Taranis however, is focusing on its own areas right now to provide to it. Autonomous flight is nothing new to UAVs, but Taranis is the first with an "autonomous targeting" capability, based on database recognition. This of course has lit fires of protests in the UK, from people who believe this turns it into a "killer robot".
The truth is it's just targeting. Taranis can go out, find things and it'll hunt and chase them to identify them and report back what it's found, possibly even with a request to fire, but everything has to be human authorised before any munition is delivered. This is a pretty unique ability, not too crazy to imagine, given that this UCAV isn't meant to hit service until 2030. A joint demonstrator should fly in 2025.
Taranis is also intended to be a lot faster and longer ranged than existing UCAVs, with "intercontinental range and supersonic flight" specified in its original brief. This will be interesting to see in the end product, as the French have no such requirement and are wanting a simpler machine. The debates over that will be interesting to see.
Thats it for the RAF, Royal Navy next. But I'm gonna grab a bite to eat. Back in 10.
>>30322419
Can someone tell a non-tankfag what that huge cage does.
>>30323147
It's a counter-RPG measure. Ideally the bars disable the electric fuse in the RPG head, if not they still cause it to detonate prematurely.
>>30323147
It causes an incoming High Explosive Anti Tank warhead to either detonate early (or if you're lucky not to detonate at all by destroying the thing altogether). Since the jet of metal explosively formed and relied on to penetrate the armor loses it's cohesion extremely quickly with distance travelled by the time it reaches the armor proper it's hopefully ineffective.
It being so comparitively simple to mount a very effective defense against HEAT ATGM's is a large part of why top-down attacks are the new cool thing to do, and of course the upper armor being inherently weaker on most vehicles upper surfaces helps make them even more effective too.
>>30323113
And what better way to kick off the Royal Navy than with the new flagships, the Queen Elizabeth class carrier.
Honestly, what more needs said about these ships that hasn't been seen in a thousand threads? They carry 50 aircraft (36 of them F-35s), can launch 200 sorties a day, displace around 65,000 to 70,000 tons, have a very fucking cool automated munitions handling system that robotically delivers munitions to the hanger and flight deck, and there's two of them coming along ahead of schedule by about 9 months.
They also have two on board F-35 simulator suites, an often not noted fact. Capable of around 32 knots and despite all best efforts, no-one in the UK defence sphere has been able to figure out what colour the wardroom carpet is going to be yet, the most important detail of all. With these, the UK is the only member outside of the US building carriers above 30,000 tonnes. (And the only ones down from that are Italy and Turkey, each building LHAs that can hold a handful of F-35s)
HMS Queen Elizabeth will start sea trials in January 2017, and enter service later that year. First flight trials will begin in 2018 ,with IOC in 2020, and full operations in 2023 with 23 F-35 ready for boarding as her first "full" wing as the F-35 is gradually delivered.
HMS Prince of Wales is due to be launched in 2017, then commissioned in 2020.
>>30323243
>With these, the UK is the only member outside of the US building carriers above 30,000 tonnes.
I guess that was meant to read "only NATO member"? Else it doesn't make sense/would be plain wrong if talking worldwide.
>>30323243
And moving into what they'll carry. The F-35B Lightning II.
For a bit of humour, some of the older Admirals in the Royal Navy keep trying to call it the "Sea Lightning" in their reports, in the hope that the name will catch on.
It isn't.
Much like the carriers, all of /k/ knows these things. But to summarise, the UK plans for 138 of them over time (although after the first 90 or so, there is debate as to whether it'll be the B or A variant) to fill out the RAF and FAA (Fleet Air Arm).
Capable of Mach 1.6, with internal storage, an internally integrated ECM and internal targeting "pod", they can run clean for stealth, backed up by a 5th generation fuselage and the often underappreciated godlike networking and information capabilities they possess. With a large AESA radar and 360 degree DAS systems, they are often compared to "mini-AWACS".
The UK has four at current, with around 17 aimed to be in service by next April, ready for IOC in 2018. The first 48 should be delivered by 2023. Their initial munitions will be ASRAAM, AMRAAM and Paveway IV, but will soon be able to use Spear and Meteor. There is a future missile planned for them, a joint cruise missile/ASM with France, set to enter service in 2030. Of course, they can easily make a quick buy of any other munitions needed from the US, as the F-35 is integrated with most of them already. (In operational timeframes)
>>30323275
You would be correct, yes. NATO member.
>>30323319
The future ASW frigate of the Royal Navy, the Type 26 Global Combat Ship.
What a few months this ship has had in debates and debacles over the delivery of what should have been a simple deal. However as with most things, it grew, and despite becoming more complicated, is looking to become far more than an "ASW frigate" and looks more like a multi-mission destroyer. (Much like how almost every European "frigate" goes these days!)
Weighing between 6,500 to 8,000 tonnes (sources differ) and capable of 26+ to 28+ knots (again sources differ, but Royal Navy history says "28+" = "34" if it's like the Type 23) they are an immense upgrade from the Type 23. Mounting a 127mm Mk45 Mod 4 gun with a new automated loading system giving it increased rate of fire over the normal version, they are aiming to have HVP guided shells out to over 100km in reach.
48 CAMM VLS make up the front and centre silos, each a 25+km Mach 3 active seeker guided SAM, possibly up to 60km by some sources. These missiles can also target surface targets, for extremely powerful "counter FIC" ability.
A 24 strong Mk41 silo rounds it out on the front, to be equipped with ASMs, ASROCs and land attack cruise missiles. Also present are two Phalanx CIWS, two DS30M 30mm remote cannons and numerous small arms. Torpedoes are unconfirmed, given the presence of ASROC. They have a massive mission bay, allowing them to carry up to four (!) helicopters, or instead carry two and use the space for USVs, Royal Marine raiding vessels, UAV control stations or simply additional storage. They are implied to be "extremely silent" in the waters, moreso than the already quiet Type 23, and mount an Artisan 3D AESA radar with a passive/active towed Captas 4 sonar (Sonar 2087).
The Royal Navy will be receiving 8 in total, starting from 2022-2023.
>>30323413
Originally, however, there were 13 Type 26 on order. However when this weas changed to 8, it made a certain degree of sense (when the initial reactionary standpoint was gotten past anyway).
13 T26 meant 19 total major escorts. That simply wasn't going to be enough. It already wasn't. So the MoD wanted more ships. The decision was taken to reduce the expensive T26 to 8, and then acquire a new frigate, the Type 31.
When they say "lighter" than a Type 26, that is kinda misleading. It's still implied to be a 4,000 to 5,000 ton design. The Venator-110 is a favourite to win the design competition. Most likely to be equipped with a 127mm Mk45 Mod 4 with guided ammo, 8x ASMs/Land Attack Missiles such as LRASM, 24x CAMM, 2x DS30M 30mm, an Artisan 3D AESA radar and with good space for a helo or two, they aren't exactly incapable designs. Coupled with a smaller sonar they could aid in ASW alongside the larger, more specialised T26's. They are simply stripping some of the "unnecessary extras" in order to instead aim for "more than" 19 major escorts in total.
It would free up the 8 T26 and 6 T45 to focus on their high end duties or go to carrier duty, but also provide a solid "general purpose" frigate that can handle itself or enhance a task force.
>>30323413
>Also present are two Phalanx CIWS
Are those Phalanx(s) ripped from the older Type 23?
>>30323486
Does this also mean that the "Black Swan" concept is dead or is reborn?
>>30323502
Type 23 doesn't have any, the first four will come from ex-Army Centurion CRAMs, the others will be new-bought.
>>30323515
Black Swan is gone, it was something different.
>>30323486
While already in service, there are a host of upgrades to come for the Type 45. Lets get this out of the way first though, the reports of them "failing in warm water" are on an "F-35 can't fly in storms" level of stupidity. Daring classes have deployed to the gulf dozens of times without any issue, and the blackouts that have happened rarely in their lifespans are only when in economy mode with only a single WM-21 running, something that couldn't happen in combat when protocol has both operating. They are also receiving new diesel generators to prevent it in future. It's a storm in a teacup and massively exaggerated, so lets all just move on.
ABM is the next main route for Type 45, with the Aster-30 NT aimed for, given it can already carry it. The Sampson AESA can already do ABM tracking, so all it needs is the missile and a slight radar upgrade to allow it to do ABM and AAW at the same time. (Although it does have the S-1850M PESA that can do air tracking too) Also sought are the 12x Mk41 silos it can fit at the front for future ASMs/LAMs or maybe even SM-3 and a 127mm Mk45 Mod4 naval gun replacement for the 113mm it has at current. They are also aiming to get CAMM into the Sylver silos, which would expand its general SAM loadout from 48 to 96 missiles owing to their quadpacking.
>>30323596
Additionally, for all Royal Navy ships, a new CIWS is planned. The UK is researching from multiple companies a UK-designed laser CIWS, that is to have a demonstrator at sea on board a ship as of 2018.
One of the contenders actually marries it to a 20mm Phalanx, as pictured, to allow it to have both the gun and the laser on the same mount.
>>30323602
The Royal Navy is also looking into 3D printed drones that can be launched for extremely cheap prices from their ships. So cheap in fact, that they would be flown on "intentionally one way missions" out into the ocean or over coastlines. One can be seen here from HMS Mersey in trials.
The UAV can travel at 50 knots, and is printed in four pieces that can be assembled without any tools needed. They are then catapulted from the deck. Recovery would be similar to Scan Eagle, catching them in a net, but of course, they might not come back, which is sort of the point, you just print another one.
The unspoken interesting element here, is that Royal Navy ships could be equipped with 3D printers in this case then. Which makes creating your own spare parts a very interesting process.
>>30323630
The Royal Navy is also acquiring five new River Class OPVs of a new batch. The new OPVs will be 2,000 tonnes each, and feature a flight deck, something the original three did not. There have been a raft of around 29 new improvements in various areas, and they will retain the same 30mm DS30M cannon with small arms.
Though they were manufactured to cross a gap in production between carriers and frigates, they are expanding the fleet to help cover things that don't really need a frigate or destroyer, and will undoubtedly be handy as the borders need watched in coming years. The original three Rivers that the five are replacing are speculated to perhaps go to the Border Force instead, so they'll still be around doing much the same job. No confirmation on this though.
All things said, going from four OPVs (including Clyde) to five-six OPVs is only a net gain. It's been some time since we saw numbers go up in the Royal Navy, and with the Type 31, they begin to do so again.
>>30323602
Whilst at first this seems like a cool idea and great for saving space, that laser box better have some pretty decent internal aiming ability otherwise you're mounting 2 systems and only ever using one due to the difference in point of aim for each of them.
>>30323658
Minehunting has always been a noted skill of the Royal Navy, given how closely it shares to their specialism in ASW. While the Hunt and Sandown classes will continue to serve in this role, there is a greater shift toward unmanned minehunting. The Hazard boat is one of the new generation of vessels to this task. Designed to be launched from a minesweeper, it will move on its own, unmanned, to the suspected zone and then deploy it's own unmanned USVs to deal with the issue.
Unmanned systems deploying unmanned systems. We're gonna need Hans Zimmer for this one.
>>30323596
>LAMs
Do you mean TLAMS? I think fitting TLAMs to the Type 45 is wasteful, whilst the flexibility is nice, at only 6 of them exist they should exist for AAW or BMD exclusively.
Having Aster 30 Block 2 and SM-3 would be a pretty cool combination though.
>>30323676
With the venerable (but very capable) Sea Skua missile going out of service in 2018, the new replacement is due to enter in 2020.
It would have been 2018, but the French decided they "didn't need it" quite so early, and severely dragged their feet on putting up the money for their share. End result meant the UK got more of the work to make them, so it wasn't all bad.
Intended for launch from the Wildcat helicopters (Themselves fairly new, a more powerful version of the excellent Lynx helicopter with increased payload, endurance and ISTAR ability) these missiles are speculated to have around a 50km range and are intended to sink vessels up to 1,500 tonnes and missile kill larger ships through specific system targeting along their new guidance systems.
The Sea Skua proved itself in the Gulf War, and this one has around twice the range and more advanced standoff targeting and terminal guidance. A solid upgrade.
Hello OP. I'm an Army Officer in the Royal Artillery.
How the hell have you come across all this information? For example, reading about Exactor, I didn't even know it was originally mounted on M113s. Admittedly I'm not part of a battery/regiment that uses it.
I doubt any of this is secret/classified in any way so I'm sure you're OK to post about it here. But I'm baffled as to how you've acquired such a wealth of information.
>>30323679
Yeah, LAMs (Land Attack Missiles), as it's not necessarily gonna be TLAMs. The new ASM to be brought up shortly is a joint ASM/Land Cruise Missile after all, intended for both equally.
>>30323706
Seen in the last picture, but more visible here, is the new "Martlet" light multi-role missile. This is a very small guided missile, formed out of the Starstreak SAM, but mounted with a ground attack warhead. It is extremely light and easy to cram onto things, indeed it can be fired from anything that can fire a Starstreak. So Stormers and even the MANPADS can fire this. Designed to target small boats, light vehicles (Up to around IFVs and medium tanks) and enemy positions, it's a very low collateral (Three times smaller than Brimstone, which is itself considered "ultra-precise") munition to target very specific things. It's almost been called a "missile fired hand grenade" with its 3 kg warhead, but with the missile's kinetic power making up its vehicle kill potential.
The fact that it can fit in a SAM tube, means one tube can be used for SAMs and surface attack.
The Wildcat can mount 5 round or 7 round launchers, but as mentioned it can be fired from the Stormer tracked SAMs (8 rounds), Starstreak HVM platforms (3 rounds), Starstreak MANPAD (1 round) or with an upgrade, even from Watchkeeper UAVs. It enters service hopefully this year on Wildcat.
>>30323749
Not OP, but there's a great wealth of UK focused defence websites that all have great articles and extremely well informed commentators.
All though my interest mainly is RN focused, I can't help picking up bits here and there of what's going with both the RAF and Army.
>>30323749
Janes did an article on the M113s a couple years back. they were fully revealed in presentations to press at a Royal Artillery barracks in about 2014 or so after they came back from Afghanistan and were brought to the core budget. I have some pics, I'll post one after I'm done with the Navy. They were no longer considered sensitive capabilities then, given they were no longer in theatre and weren't going back again.
>>30323754
By 2030, the British and French will have co-developed a new ASM to replace Harpoon and Exocet. The Royal Navy may be intending to use NSM or LRASM in the interim, but the ultimate aim is to create a home grown one. There are no details, other than that it will share both ASM and Land Attack modes.
One example shown by MBDA that could be a hint is the Perseus missile. Upon terminal approach, it actually splits into three missiles, to confuse and get around defences. The two separate ones would be aimed for sensitive exposed systems (Bridge, radar, silos) while the primary missile would go for the kill. Alternatively, it could strike three ground targets, such as two SAMs and a radar vehicle.
>>30322010
>L82A2
Is this a typo or is there an actual L82 out there? Are you able to provide a bit more detail about it and how it differs to the L85?
Also, do they still produce new L85s or is the tooling gone and the factories are shut down?
>>30323791
>>30323804
I'm more surprised that one person has taken it upon themselves to amass all this information.
I'm not surprised I'm out of the loop, I've only been an officer for under a year and I'm in a regiment that operates somewhat separately to the rest of the Artillery.
Anyway, thanks OP, all we ever talk about is how everything we have breaks down or is outdated (plus how the Russians would curbstomp us - have you heard about that Ukrainian armoured brigade that was utterly annihilated in a matter of seconds by Russian artillery?). Faith in our capability is quite low and we're always making jokes about it. It's very nice to see a thread full of information about new research, hopeful new assets, and such things. Keep it up.
>>30323804
Phew, almost there! This took way longer than I anticipated!
The Tide Class is a set of four new "fast fleet" tankers for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Displacing 37,000 tonnes each, they are quite enormous and yet are considered to be some of the cleanest running ships ever designed for the Naval Service.
The first should be about to sail to the UK very soon, entering service late this year. All three remaining ones should join it in 2017. They will be equipped in UK yards, given CIWS and DS30M 30mm cannons. Each is capable of carrying medium weight helicopters for supply transfer and is equipped with Sharpeye radar, which will also be fitted to all "non front line" ships that don't have better ones already.
With these, the RFA will maintain their "seven tankers" number as of current, except every tanker will be massive in size now, while a couple are just medium weight at the moment. A significant logistics upgrade to an already logistics powerful fleet.
>>30323855
I hear you.
Here's an example of the hard work of a single individual that may take your fancy as an Arty.
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/uk-complex-weapons/
>>30323834
Typo, I meant L85, sorry. No new ones are made, but the factories to modify still exist.
>>30323855
Thanks very much, I've always had a bit of a brain for remembering facts and numbers, just my thing, I guess. What you say is pretty much the reason why I like to do this, to help inform. I did hear about the Ukranian convoy, it's no wonder there is a sudden shift to counterbattery capabilities)
>>30323868
After the Tide Class is complete, shall come the MARS SSS project. Three ships, also set to be about 37,000 tonnes each and in many ways sharing a hull, these are Solid Support Ships (hence the SSS) to deliver stores, perishables, parts and anything else to ships in mass quantities.
However the sheer size also gives them a secondary role, each of them is actually equipped with a roll-on roll-off ramp on the side and a well deck at the rear. With the three of them, the two Albion LPDs and the three Bay LSDs, that would give the Royal Navy a total of 7 well decks across its fleet for amphibious assault. In this case, a stores ship can function as an assault platform in support of the taskforce it would be with anyway. Coupled with the Type 26's mission bay to launch Royal Marines in raiding vessels, a Royal Navy taskforce is capable of outputting a huge number of amphibious vessels in a very short time.
Think of it as "distributed amphibiosity" or so.
>>30323918
This image is a bit vague, but what you're looking at is the only real information that exists online about a replacement for RFA Diligence (repair ship) and RFA Argus (Aviation training and hospital ship). The top in the image is the Diligence replacement concept, another repair ship.
The bottom one is a more significant redesign from the Argus though, which based on the render appears to feature a rear flight deck instead of a full length one, albeit still of the same size, with a more "above deck" hospital area, rather than the "below deck" one of the current Argus.
Here's hoping this becomes something, it's a lot less confirmed than the others, simply because it's not a pressing concern at the moment.
>>30323942
Are they all going to be using a common base design? What's this? Common sense in my MoD?
>>30323942
At current, three Astute class SSNs are in service. HMS Astute, HMS Ambush and HMS Artful.
There are four more to be launched in the coming years. They are already a top end submarine, the only other submarine in the world that can claim to be on a tier with the Virginia class, and no current or soon expected sub seems set to challenge it, but after how much money was spent to make them that way, it's no surprise. With argueably peerless stealth (Reports from the USN are VERY complimentary about its levels of acoustic stealth) and possessing one of the best Sonar suites in the world with the fastest torpedo in NATO, they were designed to be the Royal Navy's ace card in conventional naval warfare. Even if escort numbers were down, these things would level the playing field through sheer terror alone of them being in the area and specifically designed to handle fast and deep subs, such as those from Russia.
They have upgrades coming though. The third one was equipped with a more advanced internal networking common computing system, that collated information (Think sensor fusion for all your airplane nerds) from all sources into one group. This is something only the Virginia's had previously, but now the Royal Navy possesses, they will be retrofitted onto the previous two as well.
Additionally, as the TLAM Block 4 upgrades for ASM duty come to bear, the Astute being able to launch them suddenly becomes a very nasty surprise for ships even out to 1,800km away if someone's around to target for them. Between their Spearfish torpedoes (up to 80 knots) and the TLAMs, the Astutes carry around 36 weapons, and have been seen with SBS submersible deployment chambers as well. Future upgrades to their internal systems are planned, but no information known.
>>30322351
>BAE's one is almost certainly a 1,500hp engine though
muh dik
Will that affect acceleration or top speed? Americans are always taking the piss on this board about how the chally 2 has poor acceleraton due to an underpowered engine.
Would you say the Challenger 2 was not exactly well future proofed when it comes to armament? Every single other NATO country uses the same 120mm smoothbore ammo, while the challenger 2 uses 3 piece ammo and a rifled gun. On top of that, isnt there only 1 factory making new ammo for the tank?
Changing it to a smoothbore 120mm gun would only leave like 15 rounds available to the crew, which is simply not good enough.
>>30324019
And finally, we had to land on the biggest, most powerful asset in the entire British Armed Forces.
The Successor Class SSBN.
"Successor" only as a class program name with no known "official" class name yet, they are for four 15,0000 ton SSBN subs carrying 12 Trident missiles each, with each missile packing multiple warheads. Also set to carry Spearfish torpedoes and possibly TLAM Block 4 missiles as well, there are rumblings about them being more general purpose if ever needed, similar to the Ohio SSGNs, however I stress that this came from a single defence news site five years ago and was most likely speculation on their part. There's so little official info, that it was all I had to bring up.
Except for pic related.
This was spotted at a BAE submarine design demonstrational seminar during a convention. It's a submarine using ducted waterjets instead of propellers. They would be vastly quieter (all moving parts are internal) and create much less disturbance (a single flow of water compared to swirling it all around), hidden beneath those long sweeping nozzles at the rear. This would enable them to be much faster and quieter.
It also looks fairly badass, I'm sure you'll agree.
The front of the new class is almost certain to be very similar to the Astute class, as BAE wants to share as many design concepts as possible. We will have to see, it's a long way off (2027 first commissioning) and it may yet just decide to go for the "conventional" layout and looks just like a "big Astute", but there are ideas out there. It's gonna be real interesting.
Thanks all for the compliments, I just like to inform and to have a bit of fun showing pictures of stuff you may not know about or have seen. The next topic after this one (whenever it is) will probably be about the prototypes of British kit that never made it into service.
>>30323855
Here's that Exactor picture fot you, was shown during a press visit. You can see the new trailer mounted one on the left a little. Amusingly, the M113s were vismoded to look like FV432s in theatre to disguise.
>>30324026
1,500 would almost certainly give it a boost in both, but at current it's still pretty mobile. A 62 ton vehicle moving at 60kph is nothing to be sneezed at. "Slower" and "Slow" are not necessarily the same thing after all.
The gun is something that would need an upgrade, there is new ammo coming for it though, so we'll see.
The real question is about its intent. Its most likely foe are T-72's and T-90's. Is the L30 enough for that? With the new ammo? Probably. If it matches that requirement and T-14's don't start springing up in unexpectedly large numbers, then it should be fine. The British rely more on ATGMs like Brimstone, NLAW, Exactor and Javelin for their tank hunting anyway.
>>30324116
>You can see the new trailer mounted one on the left a little
Yeah, I've heard PF officers talking about the trailer mount. Their words are always along the lines of (if not exactly) "It looks fucking shit". It does its job, though.
Not sure why they couldn't have just been plonked onto FV432s
Not to get off-topic, but you seem to have done your research?
Care to guess as to what effect Brexit would have on any of this? I know that defence is a "protected" budget, but I do wonder.
Alright, fuck this, I'm quitting my job and joining the navy. I'll give the recruitment office a call tomorrow during my lunch break.
My heart yearns for this.
>>30324216
I'm quite "centreline" in that I feel both sides have their merits, so I've been kinda without opinion on a lot of it and have just kept my head down. The 2014 Indyref was enough stress for me.
The overall implication is that stay or go would have no real effect on the British Forces. That are far more NATO integrated than anything else, and any EU based ones are with individual nations (Dutch and French) than because of the EU. It'd remove us from the EU High Command that we often lead, which gives us some political prestige aand influence, even if the EU doesn't really deploy.
It's more a question of economy impact, if the economy goes down, budgets will go down. But frankly, there's so much opinionated thoughts on whether it'll go up or down that it's not even worse trying to estimate.
>>30323855
>have you heard about that Ukrainian armoured brigade that was utterly annihilated in a matter of seconds by Russian artillery?
No I haven't, do tell.
>an entire brigade
>>30323855
>have you heard about that Ukrainian armoured brigade that was utterly annihilated in a matter of seconds by Russian artillery?
Jesus fuck. People really underestimae the Russians. Are there any vids/pics/links fr more info on this?
>>30322770
You forgot
Doesn't have the political support that US Forces do.
The bongs have to fight tooth and nail for everything that they get, with governments that wouldn't mind dissolving them and giving all the money to resettling pakistani future nobel peace prize winning angels.
Why is the minimum commitment for the Navy/Air force 12 years as opposed to the Army's 4? Is the army so shit that no-one would sign up for 12? I couldn't imagine committing to 12 years of something.
>>30324416
Probably the amount of money they invest in you.
Navy/RAF have wayyy less mouths to feed and so stick more of their money in training.
>>30324258
Thanks for making these threads btw, they are fantastic in terms of wuanity of information, clarity of information and photos.
There isnt much known yet, but what do you think of an "EU army" How can this affect British military traditions and procurement.
Apparently the German Government tied KMW´s hands behind its back, which eventually forced them to merge with Nexter for financial reasons. Thats the gist of it anyway and I dont know how true it is.
Do you reckon anything like that could happen to British defense contractors or is BAE systems too big to fuck with?
>>30324370
Well given that OP has heard about it I suppose it IS being discussed outside military circles. But it's certainly not being reported. The Ukrainians were in a perfectly doctrinal formation. Their short range air defence assets are better than anything we - the British - have. Yet when the Russian drones were buzzing around them they couldn't lock on to them - they were too small. Moments later, the artillery that the drones had directed on to them came crashing down. Cluster munitions with shaped charges blasted them to pieces.
We taught them that doctrine, and the Russians blew it to pieces in seconds. This is why it isn't in the media, I'm guessing. They've spent the last 10 years studying us in the middle east, and we're now playing catch up.
I also was told recently that we have some kind of treaty with the Russians that opens up our airspace periodically - for example, during RA300 recently when almost all the assets of the RA were on display at Larkhill, a Russian aircraft flew high overhead to observe.
I do wonder if I'm going to get v& for saying this on the internet.
>>30324481
quantity, not wanity
>>30324481
A lot of British defence contractors were forced into a merger into BAE, so BAE is now literally too big to fuck with.
>>30323486
it's a fucking have, because the government doesn't give a fuck about defence and would rather spend the money on poor africans, because apparently london needs more funding.
there were orignally meant to be 12 type 45 and 23 type 26. now we're going to have a grand total of 19 major escorts, wow, that's great!!!!1!!!
i know you try to make everything sound upbeat in order to stave off the crippling despair inside, but it gets old. even the type 26 has been hacked the fuck down in terms of capabilities, and the global corvette was scrapped, before being reborn as the 31, now with much fewer hulls. progress!
>>30324487
I'll clarify a few points
>Their short range air defence assets are better than anything we - the British - have
You can't use HVM or rapier to shoot down a tiny drone (British ground based air defence). The Ukrainians have radar guided guns and even they can't shoot down the small drones. They tried and failed to lock on.
> the artillery that the drones had directed on to them
The Russian artillery have a special rocket mounted drone for this. It can fire a rocket up to 70-80km with a drone inside it that ejects and then flies around spotting targets for artillery fire.
>>30323596
>While already in service, there are a host of upgrades to come for the Type 45. Lets get this out of the way first though, the reports of them "failing in warm water" are on an "F-35 can't fly in storms" level of stupidity. Daring classes have deployed to the gulf dozens of times without any issue, and the blackouts that have happened rarely in their lifespans are only when in economy mode with only a single WM-21 running, something that couldn't happen in combat when protocol has both operating. They are also receiving new diesel generators to prevent it in future. It's a storm in a teacup and massively exaggerated, so lets all just move on.
it's not actually. the mod fucked up their specs to rolls royce and the intercooler is shit. the whole idea about iep is that there is no need for diesels. but because of top down incompetence what do we see? diesel generators as a patch job because no one can get their shit together and the commons will use any excuse to stick it to the military.
i like your threads, but you need to balance the chirpiness with some reality.
>>30324487
At risk of starting a big political argument right now, Ive got a few questions about that.
Was it 2S19s which were just on the border or did Russian/Pro-Russian forces use towed artillery pieces? Im also having trouble finding any information online about it, all google is showing me is newspaper articles from multiple countries about how Ukrainian artillery destroyed a Russian convoy, which isn´t what we´re talking about here. Im curious to find information like where exactly the attack happened and the number of vehicles destroyed and the artillery used.
>>30324611
I know it hurts my credibility having made the statements I have made, but I don't know any of the answers to those questions. All I know is what was told to us in a presentation by the CO Joint GBAD. Nicely summarised by a picture of a few destroyed tanks.
Also quite scary, he told us how one of his Estonian colleagues (army air defence officer) was kidnapped. Also about Russian tactics in the Georgia invasion of 2008 - special forces kidnapping family members of air defence officers and threatening them, ordering them to turn off their radars. Turning up at their houses the morning before they went to work, those kind of James Bond bad-guy tactics.
I know it's 4chan. But I can't provide a "sauce", so as far as anyone here is concerned I could literally be making all of this up. And who knows how much of is is anti-Russian propaganda anyway. Remember the "stories" of German soldiers bayonetting babies?
>>30323868
built in korea, because westminster has thrown british industry under the bus.
you forgot to mention that the type 31 has no requirement to contain british steel, either.
>>30324611
>>30324667
Hmm, I just googled it too. Seems there is a bit of propaganda going on, all our western media outlets are very loudly shouting about how Ukraine destroyed some Russian convoy...
The propaganda war in effect by the looks of it.
>>30324667
Alright mate, no worries. The informaton and photos youve posted is fantastic so I appreciate that immensely.
Out of curiosity, are you in the British military or are you a journalist in the industry or something?
pic not really related quite frankly.
>>30324719
OP here, that wasn't me you were replying to, wires got crossed somewhere I think.
>>30324081
>carrying 12 Trident missiles
Down from 16 in the Vanguard. Using warheads bought from the French, because they Tories didn't want to spend on a domestic variant. Much like all British sonar is now completely French because the Tories gave up their stake in Thales, the same way they sold domestic nuclear power to the chinese.
This is a contraction, not success story. Labour will abolish Trident completely if they get into power, in fact the Tories aren't even sold on it either.
>>30322351
The Challenger's upgrades are looking even more desperate than the Abrams.
It's really about time we got to replacing these old clunkers with a modern design instead of slapping modern shit on a Cold-War chassis.
>>30324481
>Do you reckon anything like that could happen to British defense contractors or is BAE systems too big to fuck with?
The reason BAE is too big to fuck with is precisely because that happend in the 90s. Tony Blair saw what Clinton did in the US and copied it.
>>30324611
>>30324667 (You)
>>30324691 (You)
Furthermore it just goes to show the power of the media. These days if there isn't something about it online somewhere, it didn't happen. So many things must happen that we don't know about. Our perception is entirely controlled by the media, the narrative shaped, the world moulded into what they want us to believe it is...
"Pics or it didn't happen" is pretty much the adage of this new technological era we live in.
>>30324719
Yes I'm an officer in the British Army
>>30324737
oops lol
>>30324759
We'd be lucky, because the industrial base to produce new tank designs domestically is almost past the poind of no return.
>>30324750
>Using warheads bought from the French
Uh, what?
Somehow I don't believe that's true.
>Much like all British sonar is now completely French because the Tories gave up their stake in Thales
Every Royal Navy primary sonar is designed and built in Britain. It's the French who use UK built sonars, as they use the same ones on their frigates.
Just because it says "Thales" doesn't mean it's French. Same reason that it saying "BAE" doesn't make the Bradley British.
>>30324776
>Yes I'm an officer in the British Army
That explains the relentless positive spin on the ongoing contraction of British Forces.
>>30324737
What kind of mount is that? Ive only ever seen that kind of butterfly trigger on British helicopters.
>>30324815
It would cost eye-watering amounts of money to develop and produce new MBTs on our own, not that I´m against it though. Id love to see a new solely British MBT.
Who do you reckon Britain will partner with for the next tank, the French, Italians, Germans, or is this a question we will hear an answer to in 20 or so years?
>>30324834
Are you joking? I don't really know what positive spin you're referring to. None of my posts have been particularly positive about the British Army's capabilities. In fact quite the opposite; I've been blatantly, outright negative in every single post I've made about my own beloved Army. Aside from cavalry officers, most British officers aren't idiots.
Of course you may not know which ones are my posts since this is an anonymous website...
>>30324416
>Why is the minimum commitment for the Navy/Air force 12 years
Is this a new thing? I did 8 years as a RN Submariner and most people were getting out after 4.
>>30324824
>Somehow I don't believe that's true.
Britain requires the French to run all their simulation and design now, to be conducted at Valduc. That happened in 2010.
>Just because it says "Thales" doesn't mean it's French. Same reason that it saying "BAE" doesn't make the Bradley British.
Labour allowed the last British stake in Thales to go back to France. Thales is now 100% French owned and falls now completely under the perview of French regulators. All of that British funded technology is now being supplied to other european countries, with no royalties coming back the other way.
From the memory hole:
http://www.eureferendum.com/blogview.aspx?blogno=78803
>>30324416
Army is 12 years as well. But you can leave after 4. Don't ask, it's just what the SPS told me about my contract. Way I see it it means I'm guaranteed a job for 12 years unless either I want out or I'm totally shit at it.
>>30324984
This is correct, you either make rank or prove your worth or you are out after 12 year, the RAF were doing this long before the Navy or Army.
>>30324856
>It would cost eye-watering amounts of money to develop and produce new MBTs on our own
What a load of shit. It's more accurate to say it would cost more money than any modern british government is willing to spend, because it would take money away from vote-buying and give it to BAE, who would probably use most of it to light a fire for the tea kettle.
That line of garbage has been the number one excuse to cut the fuck out of defense, ignoring of course that all that money goes to keeping skilled british labour in work. Which returns 4x the amount to GDP than service jobs, and far more than welfare for darkies and eurotrash.
>Who do you reckon Britain will partner with for the next tank, the French, Italians, Germans, or is this a question we will hear an answer to in 20 or so years?
If Brexit doesn't happen then no one, because the UK will cease to be a soveriegn country in ten years and the contract will go to Germany. Which is what the germans have always wanted, and are less and less interested in pretending otherwise as time goes on.
If Brexit happens then we'll talk.
>>30324895
>Of course you may not know which ones are my posts since this is an anonymous website...
Probably not.
>>30325007
Yeah I worded it and sounded like an ignorant and incompetent fool.
>it would cost more money than any modern british government is willing to spend,
Thats more accurate than I could ever have hoped to say.
>>30324965
Except the warheads already exist and had nothing to do with France.
>Thales is now 100% French owned and falls now completely under the perview of French regulators. All of that British funded technology is now being supplied to other european countries, with no royalties coming back the other way.
That is completely wrong though. The sonars are designed and build literally in the UK, with UK tech, by UK workers, in UK factories.
It doesn't matter what name is on the tag, they are UK tech.
>>30321489
When is the British military going to adopt a new infantry weapon? I want the SA80 imported to America now
>>30324776
Which regiment?
>>30325079
The L85A2 will never be sold to the USA, they will be scrapped or given to an "allied" nation.
>>30325073
>Except the warheads already exist and had nothing to do with France.
warheads don't last forever, and will have to be replaced for the next, smaller and less capable ssbn.
>That is completely wrong though. The sonars are designed and build literally in the UK, with UK tech, by UK workers, in UK factories.
it's not. the tech was funded by the uk government and is now wholly owned by thales, a now wholly french company that now wholly owns all those uk workers in those uk factories.
i'll put it like this. if thales decided to close those factories and consolidate everything in france, there is essentially nothing that westminster could do about it except complain to the french. who would be fascinated to hear, i am sure.
you don't seem to grasp how completely indifferent the last several generations of politicians have been to national security.
>>30325111
>"allied" nation
So we will see L85s in the middle east a few years after they´re taken out of service then?
>>30325111
Fug
>>30325195
Maybe, it could be arming Afghanistan to fight the Soviets all over again.
>>30325195
I think that's possible. especially it cost more money to bring back military equipment home than leaving it in a warehouse.
>>30325195
nah, i think isis is happy with the ak.
>>30325219
p-pls not again
