F35 Roll Royce engine cancelled
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: UK
The UK had already committed to paying for the F-35B test articles. They're needed for the program as a whole, and if the US had to pay for them it could well trigger a Nunn-McCurdy breach - that is, where the projected costs have increased that the entire program has to be reviewed, by law.
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 927
Likes: 0
From: Sheffield
it would mark a rare victory for common sense in the procurement world!
Be nice to think that it was about common sense, but I suspect the reality is that it is born out of desperation. This kind of "compromise" solution just sounds suspiciously like people trying to hang-on to a carrier/F-35 programme by any means possible.
Be nice to think that it was about common sense, but I suspect the reality is that it is born out of desperation. This kind of "compromise" solution just sounds suspiciously like people trying to hang-on to a carrier/F-35 programme by any means possible.
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,682
Likes: 63
From: Far West Wessex
Melmoth - The headline and lead are confusing (blame the sub) but the story's pretty clear.
As for the testing: one issue is that the UK did not plan to pick the way to go with the carriers before the STOVL testing had been done. It's now getting late in the day shipwise and STOVL testing hasn't started. The arrival of the UK STOVL jets will in any case be far too late in the day to change course.
As for the testing: one issue is that the UK did not plan to pick the way to go with the carriers before the STOVL testing had been done. It's now getting late in the day shipwise and STOVL testing hasn't started. The arrival of the UK STOVL jets will in any case be far too late in the day to change course.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: UK
I think it's pretty simple. Why buy a GR9 and a GR4 replacement, when you can do both at once.
I can see a future with 5 Typhoon and 5 Dave C squadrons being the total UK fast jet fleet.
Once that decision is made, the harriers can go straight away. The government can explain that they have decided to move to the more capable CTOL configuration, therefore VTOL skills no longer need to be retained.
Those 12 Merlin HM1s in store (not part of the upgrade) and probably earmarked for the AEW role, can then be immediately converted for a more utilitarian role..... and the government can claim that they are getting helicopters to the front line.
... and finally the treasury gets a wedge back to plough into the NHS.
I can see a future with 5 Typhoon and 5 Dave C squadrons being the total UK fast jet fleet.
Once that decision is made, the harriers can go straight away. The government can explain that they have decided to move to the more capable CTOL configuration, therefore VTOL skills no longer need to be retained.
Those 12 Merlin HM1s in store (not part of the upgrade) and probably earmarked for the AEW role, can then be immediately converted for a more utilitarian role..... and the government can claim that they are getting helicopters to the front line.
... and finally the treasury gets a wedge back to plough into the NHS.
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 932
Likes: 0
From: UK
N-A-B,
What a shame - you and A Widdecombe is the only reason to support Dave-B!
In any event, we should be grateful for any opportunity to bin Dave-B and go for Dave-C with the F-136. (And not just for the Rolls connection - from AIUI, it's a more powerful engine with better future growth.)
S41
What a shame - you and A Widdecombe is the only reason to support Dave-B!
In any event, we should be grateful for any opportunity to bin Dave-B and go for Dave-C with the F-136. (And not just for the Rolls connection - from AIUI, it's a more powerful engine with better future growth.)
S41
