Aircraft Carriers II (Closed to posting)

[Obi Wan Russell]

Since we have the QE II pic here, what's the latest status of the program anyway?
Will there be cats now or is that still just an upgrade option for the future? And that also has implications on the aircraft to buy. The RAF / FAA could get it's hands onto F-35C instead of B.
And PoW really becomes a LPH now with a still to be determined setup / layout, correct?

Current situation is QE will complete (probably as LPH) in 2016 relieving Ocean, PoW following in 2019 as CV with EMALS and Advanced Arrestor gear, and QE will be retrofitted by 2023 (but don't tell Cameron or Osbourne!). Fox has let slip his plan is for both to have cats and traps though funding is in place for just one at the moment, plenty of time to sort it all out later. As to aircraft, currently contracts have been signed for three development batch F-35Bs, though the MOD is negotiating to swap the third one for a C model. The eventual buy will definately be the F-35C now.

 

[Scratch]

So QE will at least for a few years in the future really be a great improvement for the Royal Marines then, I guess. Lots of space. Should also have a great aviation detachment. Though if you think eventually it will be all F-35C, QE will not have organic fighter support in the LPH role?
And if Ocean is relieved in 2016, any ideas out yet what will take over that role from QE in 2023?

Anyway, if the RN really gets two EMALS CVs in twelve years from now, that's a great boost for the UK.

 

[Obi Wan Russell]

In the LPH role initially there will be no fighter support unless part of a joint operation with the USN or MN, after 2020 that will hopefully change. The CVFs are large enough to take on both the LPH role and CV role (with reduced fighter complement eg one 12 aircraft F-35C sqn instead of three, alongside the CHF and other helos as required). We have no air cover at sea now, so we have something to look forward to at least.

 

[Equation]

So QE will at least for a few years in the future really be a great improvement for the Royal Marines then, I guess. Lots of space. Should also have a great aviation detachment. Though if you think eventually it will be all F-35C, QE will not have organic fighter support in the LPH role?
And if Ocean is relieved in 2016, any ideas out yet what will take over that role from QE in 2023?

Anyway, if the RN really gets two EMALS CVs in twelve years from now, that's a great boost for the UK.

What...no modify naval version of the Typhoon? I like that plane.

 

[TerraN_EmpirE]

Guess you will have too wait for someone else who uses the Typhoon and want too build a carrier.
Perhaps the Germans Will suddenly decide too build a carrier, or May be the Saudis ( doubt it for both.) And I think India just down selected too the Rafale

 

[Obi Wan Russell]

Typhoon will never make a satisfactory naval aircraft, you need to include the requirement from the start to have any success. The last time it was tried, the F-17 Cobra was transformed into the F/A-18 Hornet, and the name and number change should give you a clue as to how much work was involved. Virtually a whole new aircraft that just happened to look a lot like the old one, and the same thing happened with the change from the Hornet to the Super Hornet. They may look similar, but have little if any commonality. Any 'SeaPhoon' would have to have it's airframe redesigned from scratch to cope with arrested landings and cat shots (STOBAR is the worst option BTW).

 

[Jeff Head]

Current situation is QE will complete (probably as LPH) in 2016 relieving Ocean, PoW following in 2019 as CV with EMALS and Advanced Arrestor gear, and QE will be retrofitted by 2023 (but don't tell Cameron or Osbourne!). Fox has let slip his plan is for both to have cats and traps though funding is in place for just one at the moment, plenty of time to sort it all out later. As to aircraft, currently contracts have been signed for three development batch F-35Bs, though the MOD is negotiating to swap the third one for a C model. The eventual buy will definately be the F-35C now.

Very sad, IMHO...almost criminal what they have done to the capabilities of the RN. Leaves the UK depending almost entirely on the USN and the USN will get cut as a result of these latest budgetary talks too. Hopefully that will turn around in 2012.

But to have those beautiful carriers coming out and then the 1st spend several years as an LPH is just shameful IMHO. At least you will get some use out of her...but to have that CV and part of its service life...on the front end no less...being so underutilized.

Oh well, you play with the cards you are dealt and hopefully the UK citizens will turn it around .

 

[Equation]

Hmmm...but I've seen advertisement work that the Typhoon (frame wise) can be constructed to fit into the naval aviation role. I guess it's all just PR.

 

[Jeff Head]

Excellent video here of the Russian Kuznetsov and her close in escort navigating through very rough seas.

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One day the Varyag will be at sea like this.

In one of the comments at this video, they quote the Captain I believe talking about the coming refit and how long it will be before she is back at sea like this.

 

[Scratch]

I'm sure that someone in the marketing department of Cassidian once mentioned that they could of course make a naval Typhoon (if someone would spend the money for the redesign). Chances are pretty slim I guess. Super Hornet, Rafale & Lightning II are the aircraft of choise here, really.
In connection with the brazilien F-X2 programm, I believe it was once mentioned Saab could make a VTOL/STOVL version of the Gripen, if so desired (Sao Paulo CV). I would really have liked to see that, but in the end it was probably very unlikely from the start.