UK Maritime Patrol Aircraft - An Urgent Requirement
More on the Sea Hercules, and more to come shortly. Using the the Merlin sensor fit in the to-be-retired RAF C-130J's.
Lockheed Martin To Offer Converted C-130Js As Maritime Patrollers | Defense content from Aviation Week
Note the extended sponsons forward of the landing gear- for torpedos etc, and says devlepment of these sponsons is quite far along. Missles on the wing rails. Quite a nifty set up.
Lockheed Martin To Offer Converted C-130Js As Maritime Patrollers | Defense content from Aviation Week
Note the extended sponsons forward of the landing gear- for torpedos etc, and says devlepment of these sponsons is quite far along. Missles on the wing rails. Quite a nifty set up.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: 4 Civvy Street. Nowhere-near-a-base. The Shires.
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
055166k
One has developed 15-20cm structural cracks in ground testing, the other is based on an aircraft which has had notorious crashes following structural failures of the vertical tail.
TBH both sound less than ideal for ASW.
One has developed 15-20cm structural cracks in ground testing, the other is based on an aircraft which has had notorious crashes following structural failures of the vertical tail.
TBH both sound less than ideal for ASW.
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
P1, P8, Sea Herc and a handful of others with drones thrown in. In any other procurement I'd be pleased with the market offering and confident of a decently-priced package. Why am I nervous about this one?
By the way, £10 to RAFA says it will be P1. Any takers?
By the way, £10 to RAFA says it will be P1. Any takers?
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: 4 Civvy Street. Nowhere-near-a-base. The Shires.
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
There's less need.
Modern aircrew don't eat their own weight in pies on every sortie, unlike most of the "nostalgia" posters on here (and on the Calling Redundant AEOps thread) did.
Modern aircrew don't eat their own weight in pies on every sortie, unlike most of the "nostalgia" posters on here (and on the Calling Redundant AEOps thread) did.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The galley isn't only for aircrew!
In the modern RAF, where techie shifts continue round the clock, but chefs don't, how else do you think night shifts function but for scavenging spare inflight food?
In the modern RAF, where techie shifts continue round the clock, but chefs don't, how else do you think night shifts function but for scavenging spare inflight food?
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
UK Maritime Patrol Aircraft - An Urgent Requirement
A few questions? 1. Are we going to compare each option against some kind of URD (inc oven) or is it going to be based on the same whimsical stuff I read on here? 2. Will the wider industrial piece come into it? 3. Will the certification of it IAW the MRP be taken into account? 4. Is it really that important to the RAF as I don't get the impression the carrier/submarine community are making the case for it like we are? Only a few months to go til I found out.....
If we go for a straight, single source solution, we'll have it up and flying at IOC before 2017(ish). If we make a competition of it, I reckon it'll be post-2020(ish) and it'll be open to cutting (again).
it'll be open to cutting (again).
You make good points, and both are 100% political. To single source needs God +1 to approve, and you're often at the mercy of which company is flavour of the month. I well recall one CDP, Walmsley, who decreed that a completed programme, delivered 5 months ahead of schedule, 33% under "cost" and to a better spec should be cancelled (i.e. over 3000 LRUs scrapped), started all over again and awarded to Thales. And he had signed the original procurement strategy. (But as Haddon-Cave said "it makes no sense to put a submariner in charge of air platforms").
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tuc
new procurement regs will add some impetus to the need to run some kind of competition. To simply award a contract could provide grounds for challenge for any Europe-based provider to have the decision overturned.
As a tax-payer I would be livid if the MoD even considered a non-competitive award for a £1bn contract; but if you look at past performance.....
new procurement regs will add some impetus to the need to run some kind of competition. To simply award a contract could provide grounds for challenge for any Europe-based provider to have the decision overturned.
As a tax-payer I would be livid if the MoD even considered a non-competitive award for a £1bn contract; but if you look at past performance.....
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Far North of Watford
Age: 82
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For the money we could have half as many again of P1s, which are smaller, faster, longer range , have the same payload and were designed from scratch for the task. As a committed pessimist I therefore conclude it will be a smaller number of P8. But whatever it is, for God's sake get on with it.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 1,515
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"This could include more spy planes, drones and Special Forces. In the last five years, I have seen just how vital these assets are in keeping us safe." David Cameron
Get OC Catering to bulk order the DCS
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Lossiemouth IV31 6RS
Age: 75
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
He was told - shame DC didn't listen five years ago...
Dear Mr Cameron,
I apologise for the open nature of this letter, but time is of the essence and the subject too important to allow for the luxury of private correspondence.
I refer to the cancellation of Nimrod MRA4 and the closure of Royal Air Force Kinloss to flying operations. The effect of this decision on local jobs, businesses and on the economy of Moray has been well aired, and rightly so. Of even greater concern to me and my family (despite the probable loss of my own job) is the effect this decision will have on the security and well being of the United Kingdom.
We are an island nation with the sea lanes still our main source of supply and trade. We are a nation active in world politics with ambitions for the future and a long history which has not endeared us to all members of a very mobile world population. In these days of international terrorism, drug running and our reliance on an underwater nuclear deterrent, it is utter folly to end our maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) capability.
We must have an airborne capability, even in these times of financial restraint. The need for long range reconnaissance, anti-submarine operations and a search and rescue capability has barely diminished, and the need for electronic and optical surveillance and intelligence gathering has increased to meet modern threats.
Why on earth then, have we cancelled Nimrod MRA4? Being late and over budget does not equate to being no good, and to summarily cancel without reference to current capability and future potential is unacceptable. MRA4 is a platform with 15 hours unrefueled flight duration, a 2,000 plus mile radius of action, 13 weapon hard points, radar range of 250 miles, is search and rescue capable, has advanced communications, superior electro optics for surface intelligence gathering and has very capable underwater detection systems. All integrated, working and demonstrated – AND ALREADY PAID FOR. At Royal Air Force Kinloss the training and support infrastructure is already in place and to disband such established facilities that support a very capable MPA is unforgiveable.
Unless this decision is reversed, people will die – as a result of unresolved search and rescue incidents, undetected drug and terrorist imports and missed intelligence. Our nuclear deterrent will be less secure and possibly rendered useless putting our whole nation at risk.
Mr Cameron, please hear these points from someone who has over 30 years military experience both within industry and the RAF. I have 5,000 flying hours as both Navigator and Pilot plus 5,000 hours of instructional experience in the Nimrod flight simulator. Approaching retirement, I have no axe to grind other than the well being of future generations, and of my country.
You say we cannot afford a maritime patrol aircraft capability. Prime Minister, the Nation cannot afford to be without.
Yours sincerely,
Hanfimar.
I apologise for the open nature of this letter, but time is of the essence and the subject too important to allow for the luxury of private correspondence.
I refer to the cancellation of Nimrod MRA4 and the closure of Royal Air Force Kinloss to flying operations. The effect of this decision on local jobs, businesses and on the economy of Moray has been well aired, and rightly so. Of even greater concern to me and my family (despite the probable loss of my own job) is the effect this decision will have on the security and well being of the United Kingdom.
We are an island nation with the sea lanes still our main source of supply and trade. We are a nation active in world politics with ambitions for the future and a long history which has not endeared us to all members of a very mobile world population. In these days of international terrorism, drug running and our reliance on an underwater nuclear deterrent, it is utter folly to end our maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) capability.
We must have an airborne capability, even in these times of financial restraint. The need for long range reconnaissance, anti-submarine operations and a search and rescue capability has barely diminished, and the need for electronic and optical surveillance and intelligence gathering has increased to meet modern threats.
Why on earth then, have we cancelled Nimrod MRA4? Being late and over budget does not equate to being no good, and to summarily cancel without reference to current capability and future potential is unacceptable. MRA4 is a platform with 15 hours unrefueled flight duration, a 2,000 plus mile radius of action, 13 weapon hard points, radar range of 250 miles, is search and rescue capable, has advanced communications, superior electro optics for surface intelligence gathering and has very capable underwater detection systems. All integrated, working and demonstrated – AND ALREADY PAID FOR. At Royal Air Force Kinloss the training and support infrastructure is already in place and to disband such established facilities that support a very capable MPA is unforgiveable.
Unless this decision is reversed, people will die – as a result of unresolved search and rescue incidents, undetected drug and terrorist imports and missed intelligence. Our nuclear deterrent will be less secure and possibly rendered useless putting our whole nation at risk.
Mr Cameron, please hear these points from someone who has over 30 years military experience both within industry and the RAF. I have 5,000 flying hours as both Navigator and Pilot plus 5,000 hours of instructional experience in the Nimrod flight simulator. Approaching retirement, I have no axe to grind other than the well being of future generations, and of my country.
You say we cannot afford a maritime patrol aircraft capability. Prime Minister, the Nation cannot afford to be without.
Yours sincerely,
Hanfimar.