Monday 22 March 2021

Defence in a Competitive Age

 
 
 
Defence in a Competitive Age describes Defence's contribution to the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.
 
An Astute class submarine departs Her Majestys Naval Base Clyde
 
   
It may be downloaded here.

Saturday 20 March 2021

The Six Aeroplanes: Prefect,Pegasus,Perseus,Centaurus,Falcon And Furious

 
10 Sqn RAF Voyager aircraft deicing and embarking passengers at RAF Brize Norton
 
 
Further to an earlier piece on rationalising the United Kingdom's naval and military helicopter fleet and another on Hector,Hercules and Hermes,herein we shall list the only aeroplane types which the United Kingdom's armed forces actually need (rather than have or want).
 
Grob 120TP Prefect
 
 
The Prefect is an aeroplane of approximately one and a half long tons maximum take off weight used for both naval and military initial aeroplane pilot training.
 
Grob 120TP Prefect Elementary Flying Training platform from 703 Naval Air Squadron
 
 
The Prefect shall eventually be replaced by an aircraft designed and built in the United Kingdom to stimulate the United Kingdom's economy and secure the future of the United Kingdom's aeroplane industry.
 
Pilot Training System
 
Picture: Grand Logistics
 
The Pegasus shall be an aeroplane of approximately ten long tons maximum take off weight used for both naval and military multi engine aeroplane pilot training,low intensity combat operations and for other,noncombat,tasks for which a larger aeroplane is unneccessary or impractical such as the Waterguard Service (surveillance and search and rescue) and Scottish Ambulance Service (air ambulance) charters.

Saunders Roe S.36 Lerwick L7265 WQQ of 209 Squadron RAF in Wig Bay
 
 
The Pegasus shall be an all new aircraft designed and built in the United Kingdom to stimulate the United Kingdom's economy and secure the future of the United Kingdom's aeroplane industry.
 
Battle Formation Layered Defence
 
Picture: Grand Logistics
 
The Perseus shall be an aeroplane of approximately fifty long tons maximum take off weight used for both naval and military multi engine aeroplane pilot training,combat patrol and for other,noncombat,tasks such as Foreign Office (secure transport) charter.
 
SAAB GlobalEye 2019
 
 
The Perseus shall be an all new aircraft designed and built in the United Kingdom to stimulate the United Kingdom's economy and secure the future of the United Kingdom's aeroplane industry.
 
Stores and equipment dropped from US Airforce C17 Globemasters at the start of Exercise Swift Response
 
 
The Centaurus shall be an aeroplane of approximately three hundred long tons maximum take off weight used for military four engine aeroplane pilot training,strategic transport,tactical transport,naval mine laying,aerial refuelling and for other noncombat tasks for which a large aeroplane is necessary such as the Foreign Office (foreign aid) charter.
 
Army Mastiff on an RAF C17 at Camp Bastion Afghanistan
 
 
The Centaurus shall be an all new aircraft designed and built in the United Kingdom to stimulate the United Kingdom's economy and secure the future of the United Kingdom's aeroplane industry.
 
The RAFs latest fast jet trainer the Hawk T2 is pictured during a flight over the beautiful scenery of North Wales
 
 
The Falcon shall be an aeroplane of approximately ten long tons maximum take off weight used for both naval and military combat aeroplane pilot training,and for other noncombat tasks such as weapons trials and the Aviation Medicine Flight.
 
A T45C Goshawk of Training Squadron VT26 landing aboard USS Dwight D Eisenhower CVN69 Atlantic 1st August 2011
 
 
The Falcon shall be an all new aircraft designed and built in the United Kingdom to stimulate the United Kingdom's economy and secure the future of the United Kingdom's aeroplane industry.
 
Flypast of the Chengdu J20 during the opening of Airshow China in Zhuhai
 
 
The Furious shall be an aeroplane of approximately fifty long tons maximum take off weight used for both naval and military combat aeroplane pilot training,air defence,air attack and aerial reconnaissance.
 
Chengdu J20
 
 
The Furious shall be an all new aircraft designed and built in the United Kingdom to stimulate the United Kingdom's economy and secure the future of the United Kingdom's aeroplane industry.
 

Tuesday 2 March 2021

The Three Helicopters: Hector,Hercules And Hermes

  
Merlin Mk 4 helicopters from 845 NAS on RFA Argus
  
  
Further to an earlier piece on rationalising the United Kingdom's naval and military combat helicopter fleet,herein we shall list the only helicopter types which the United Kingdom's armed forces actually need (rather than have or want).
  
Jupiter HT1 Helicopter from the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury
 
 
The Hector shall be a helicopter of approximately three long tons maximum take off weight used for both naval and military initial helicopter pilot training and for other non combat tasks for which a larger helicopter is unneccessary or impractical such as the Trinity House (lighthouse support) and police force (surveillance) charters.
  
Agusta A109E of 32 The Royal Squadron over Buckingham Palace
  
  
The Hector shall be a modified existing type,such as the elderly AW109 or AW119,or an all new aircraft designed and built in the United Kingdom to stimulate the United Kingdom's economy and secure the future of the United Kingdom's helicopter industry.
 
Helicopter Pilot Training System
 
Picture: Grand Logistics
 
The Hercules shall be a helicopter of approximately six long tons maximum take off weight used for both naval and military combat helicopter pilot training and for other non combat tasks for which a larger helicopter is unneccessary or impractical such as the Waterguard Service (search and rescue) and health service (air ambulance) charters.
  
Agusta Westland AW139M an Italian Air Force HH 139A
 
  
The Hercules shall be a modified existing type,such as the AW139M or AW169M,or an all new aircraft designed and built in the United Kingdom to stimulate the United Kingdom's economy and secure the future of the United Kingdom's helicopter industry,in the interim AW159 Wildcats may perform some of the roles of the Hercules.
  
Merlin Helicopter from 845 Naval Air Squadron conducting damage surveys in Honduras
 
  
The Hermes,or Ultra Merlin,shall be a helicopter of approximately twenty long tons maximum take off weight used for both military and naval combat and for non combat tasks which require a large helicopter such as the Waterguard Service (search and rescue),Home Office (secure transport) and Foreign Office (hospital ship) charters.
  
A Merlin helicopter from 845 Naval Air Squadron with an underslung load
  
  
The Hermes helicopter shall be a Super Merlin helicopter with a new,longer,composite air frame (Super Merlin being a twenty long ton class helicopter which combines the air frame of the Merlin's transport variant with larger rotors,uprated engines and transmission and systems capable of detecting,identifying,tracking and engaging air,surface and submarine targets) designed and built in the United Kingdom to stimulate the United Kingdom's economy and secure the future of the United Kingdom's helicopter industry.