UK Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

[Jeff Head]

C) USAF plans to buy 100x Next Gen Long Range Stealth Bombers to replace the currently deployed B-2s, cost of the new bombers will be estimated at USD 8bn/unit. Original budget was estimated at USD 5.5bn/unit, the new price is almost 47% of the original estimation due to the difference in value of the USD between 2010 and 2013. This huge budget includes the R&D and the cost per unit.

Actually, current plans call for 80-100 of the Long Range Strike Bombers. They will be sub-sonic and stealthy. Currently, the budget to develop the bomber is approaching $4 billion US dollars, with more to be pent over the next five years. The target price per aircraft is actually currently planned at $550 million US dollars. But this is without R&D. With the R&D factored in, the current plan is actually for the bombers to total $1 billion per aircraft...nothing remotely close to $8 billion US dollars per unit. Initial operational capability is targeted for 2025. The figures quoted above are completely mis-informed.

7) The Type 45 class reached the main surface combantant's tonnage only 2nd to USN Aleigh Burke classes;

Nope. In terms of actual AEGIS vessels, the largest are the Korean KDX III Se Jong Class, followed by the Japanese Atago Class and US Ticonderoga Class, then it is the Japanese Kongo Class and Burke Class.

8) Type 45 features Mk-41 VLS (strange!!! I tot the Daring class uses Sylver VLS!!!) which could launch Aster 15 & Aster 30 to achieve near & long range air defenses capabilities. Besides Aster missiles, the warship carries harpoon missiles for anti ship missions;

Completely incorrect and mis-informed. It has no Mk-41 VLS whatsoever. The Type 45 use a 48 cell Sylver A50 Launcher for Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles.

9) Fang continues to analyse that all three types of warships in the exercise happened to be the main surface combatant of the respective countries although Type 45 are not fully Aegis yet

Again. Completely wrong premise. The Type 45 were never meant to be "AEGIS" vessels. Instead, the Type 45 is equipped with the PAAMS (Sea Viper) air-defence system utilizing the SAMPSON active electronically scanned array multi-function air tracking radar and the S1850M long-range air surveillance radar. This is a different system than AEGIS. Both compare in terms of their efficacy for AAW engagements.

;11) Last traceable warships were HMS Prince of Wales & HMS Repulse (both sunk eventually by IJN air forces) in the Battle of Malaya and a HMS carrier during the closing phase of Pacific theater in WW2, other than that, the presence of British Navy was slowly fading off in Asian-Pacific region after WW2 and shifting its interests during the Cold War period;

This translation must be in error. There have been many, many Royal Navy ships in the Western Pacific since World War II.

Its main radar could detect a radius of 300km of any air-borne threats in the likes of incoming anti-ship missiles or enemy planes and a tracking of 8 targets. Its speed is one of its main advantage besides its superior stealth.

Again, this is just wrong. The PAAMS system is able to track over 2,000 targets and simultaneously control and coordinate multiple missiles in the air at once, allowing a large number of tracks to be intercepted and destroyed at any given time. This makes the PAAMS system particularly difficult to swamp during a saturation attack, even against supersonic targets

 

[TerraN_EmpirE]

does ant one else think Astute looks like a happy sperm whale?
[video=youtube_share;vkNhBC9lrcU]http://youtu.be/vkNhBC9lrcU[/video]

 

[Jeff Head]

does ant one else think Astute looks like a happy sperm whale?

I guess a lot depends on what perspective you are seeing her from.

​

 

[TerraN_EmpirE]

The thought came to me as I was watching that documentary and they were moving the boat's bow in. The bow has a rectangular opening on the lower part. That opening I guess was closed during construction but it reminds me of a mouth. And with the shape of the upper structure I suddenly thought happy sperm whale.

 

[ToxicStar]

I guess a lot depends on what perspective you are seeing her from.

​

Nice pictures! IMO Astute class is the best looking submarine class in the world now. The British did a good job at designing the look of their new generation warships, Type 45, Type 26, Astute Class, etc.

 

[asif iqbal]

Nice pictures! IMO Astute class is the best looking submarine class in the world now. The British did a good job at designing the look of their new generation warships, Type 45, Type 26, Astute Class, etc.

After the WWII UK could simply not match the USA and Soviet Union in terms of resources and manpower and two world wars left its pretty much bankrupt whereas both the Americans and Russian emerged much more powerful nations due to the huge war effort

However that meant that UK had to think wider and more innovations to keep up, this lead to many innovations when it came to aircraft carriers, the angled deck, optical landing system, armoured flight deck, ski jump and twin island we see today on the Queen Elizabeth Class these are all innovations by Britain

Being a small island nation it has always punched way above its weight and these new items like Type 45 DDG and Astute Class SSN serve a reminder that UK still has steam left in its engine to out run any country in Europe, once the two carriers are operational France will no longer hold the lead

Some of the best and most modern equipment with the best trained service men come from UK

The two Queen Elizabeth Carriers will ensure the "Royal" is put back into the Royal Navy for decades to come

I drive by HMS Queen Elizabeth every week on the Fourth Road bridge passing Rosyth and I can tell you this warship is totally huge!!

 

[Jura The idiot]

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Quotes from the data sheet on that webpage:

Anti-ship missiles:
(Fitted for but not with) 8x AGM-84 Harpoon

Anti-Submarine:
None (relies on Helicopter for ASW)

End of quotes.

 

[Jeff Head]

To further punctuate Juar's post:

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​

HMS Duncan, the Royal Navy’s sixth Type 45 Destroyer, has entered into service four months ahead of schedule.

The ship was scheduled to enter service in early 2014, but thanks to the hard work of both the ship’s company and industry since her arrival in Portsmouth, HMS Duncan is ready to take up duties now.The 7,500 tonne vessel will now embark on a program of trials to prepare the ship and her crew for operational deployment.HMS Duncan is the final Type 45 to enter service with the Royal Navy. Her handover to the Fleet marks the end of a 13-year build program with BAE Systems to deliver the six ships – Daring, Dauntless, Diamond, Dragon, Defender and Duncan.

Armed with the world-leading Sea Viper missile defense system which can neutralize threats up to 70 miles away, the Type 45s are the most powerful air defense destroyers ever used by the Royal Navy.

Measuring in at 152 meters in length, HMS Duncan and her sister ships are longer than 16 double decker buses and as tall as an electricity pylon. Her onboard power plant can supply enough electricity to light a town of 80,000 people.

Minister for Defence, Equipment, Support and Technology, Philip Dunne MP said:"Thanks to the skill and hard work of the Commanding Officer, the ship’s company and their MOD and industry partners, HMS Duncan has entered service four months early. It is testament to the improving control of projects across the Armed Forces and significant dedication across Defence that all six ships of the Type 45 class are now in the hands of the Royal Navy.

The Type 45 program has provided the Royal Navy with one of the most sophisticated and effective air defence ships available anywhere in the world. We expect these vessels to see decades of service protecting the UK’s interests around the world, including providing humanitarian aid as we saw recently with HMS Daring’s efforts in the Philippines."

 

[asif iqbal]

It's criminal to stop at 6 they are getting faster and better and cheaper at building these units and just at the time when the shipyards has totally proven itself they stop the production they deserve much better and should be given the contract for 6 more units they earned it they deserve it

Plus 6 more would bring the unit cost down further and the R&D would be split by 12 not 6 even lower price

And at the end of the day 12 DDG would give RN a great capability, they could easily have 1-2 deployed on a permanent basis

Anyonw who has excercised with this DDG will tell you, it's the best ever DDG ever operated by the RN, and RN is no joke in itself, it puts the "Royal" back into the Royal Navy

I would not be too fussed about Tomahawks but I am fussed about the numbers 6 is not enough, 6 with Tommys and 6 without woud be great

 

[Jeff Head]

It's criminal to stop at 6 they are getting faster and better and cheaper at building these units and just at the time when the shipyards has totally proven itself they stop the production they deserve much better and should be given the contract for 6 more units.

Plus 6 more would bring the unit cost down further and the R&D would be split by 12 not 6 even lower price

And at the end of the day 12 DDG would give RN a great capability, they could easily have 1-2 deployed on a permanent basis

Well, I do not know about it being "criminal," hehehe...but is certainly is a shame.

12 would be a very respectful number. IMHO, the RN should have 12 Darings and 24 of the new Type 26 FFGs. 36 major surface combatants is still a relative small number, but plenty to sustain very credible operations, and surge to critical requirements in a crisis.

With 12 Darings, they could easily have eight at sea or working up most all of the time.

But, it is what it is, and having six is better than none.