RAF Poseidon - Not too long to wait?
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"We’ve just declared an initial operating capability for our Poseidon aircraft, on time on 1st April 2020. It’s a really exciting time for us in this programme, which is moving fast and the team at RAF Lossiemouth has delivered some great results in very quick time. We’ve still got a long way to go with introducing this next generation capability into Service, but Poseidon is a game-changer, not just for hunting submarines but for a range of other roles from anti-ship warfare, maritime reconnaissance and long-range search and rescue tasks."
Link here ; https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles...ng-capability/
I can understand the mention of both 120 and 201 Squadrons but what is the connection with 54 Squadron which is an ISTAR unit at Waddington ?
The Poseidon achieved IOC on the 1st April , an unfortunate date , with the news appearing on the RAF Homepage ;
"We’ve just declared an initial operating capability for our Poseidon aircraft, on time on 1st April 2020. It’s a really exciting time for us in this programme, which is moving fast and the team at RAF Lossiemouth has delivered some great results in very quick time. We’ve still got a long way to go with introducing this next generation capability into Service, but Poseidon is a game-changer, not just for hunting submarines but for a range of other roles from anti-ship warfare, maritime reconnaissance and long-range search and rescue tasks."
Link here ; https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles...ng-capability/
I can understand the mention of both 120 and 201 Squadrons but what is the connection with 54 Squadron which is an ISTAR unit at Waddington ?
"We’ve just declared an initial operating capability for our Poseidon aircraft, on time on 1st April 2020. It’s a really exciting time for us in this programme, which is moving fast and the team at RAF Lossiemouth has delivered some great results in very quick time. We’ve still got a long way to go with introducing this next generation capability into Service, but Poseidon is a game-changer, not just for hunting submarines but for a range of other roles from anti-ship warfare, maritime reconnaissance and long-range search and rescue tasks."
Link here ; https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles...ng-capability/
I can understand the mention of both 120 and 201 Squadrons but what is the connection with 54 Squadron which is an ISTAR unit at Waddington ?
The Poseidon achieved IOC on the 1st April , an unfortunate date ...
It's just good to have that capability back in the UK...............
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
As the date on which the RAF itself was founded, most would consider it auspicious rather than unfortunate.
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For those asking about why 54 Sqn is involved...Reformed as No. 54 (Reserve) Squadron at RAF Waddington on 1 September 2005 (after being a Jaguar squadron) it re-roled as the ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) Operational Conversion Unit, responsible for training all mission crews for the E-3D Sentry AEW1, the Nimrod R1 and the Sentinel R1. The unit is also responsible for the delivery of the Qualified Weapons Instructor Course for ISR (QWI ISR)and trains crews for the newly acquired RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft.
From 2012, Project SEEDCORN, an international effort, saw RAF pilots and rear crews deployed to the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. This cohort of aircrew have kept maritime skills and instruction skills alive, and become heavily involved in their host squadrons activities. In November 2019, ten SEEDCORN instructors joined 54 Sqn to be the initial cadre of instructors on the Poseidon MRA Mk1 OCU. They comprise, 2 pilots, 4 WSOs, 2 WSOp (ISTAR EW) and 2 WSOp (ISTAR ACO).
The 54 Sqn instructors have been training the CXX personnel up to and including IOC
From 2012, Project SEEDCORN, an international effort, saw RAF pilots and rear crews deployed to the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. This cohort of aircrew have kept maritime skills and instruction skills alive, and become heavily involved in their host squadrons activities. In November 2019, ten SEEDCORN instructors joined 54 Sqn to be the initial cadre of instructors on the Poseidon MRA Mk1 OCU. They comprise, 2 pilots, 4 WSOs, 2 WSOp (ISTAR EW) and 2 WSOp (ISTAR ACO).
The 54 Sqn instructors have been training the CXX personnel up to and including IOC
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Ditto thanks for the solid info...I have old mates on this programme and mighty fine fellows they are. I am somewhat cynical about the whole IOC concept, but that's not just about this project...and now is not the time for cynicism anyway.
Kipper fleet...welcome back. A poor decision well corrected IMHO.
Kipper fleet...welcome back. A poor decision well corrected IMHO.
Thread Starter
One would really wonder whether our tiny fleet of P-8As are adequate, and whether they should not be augmented by an aircraft like Saab's Swordfish. At roughly half the cost, it could add numbers, and isn't markedly less capable.
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the Japanese - an island nation, reliant on maritime trade, but without SSBNs or CVs, think that they need more than 70 MPAs.
Apples and oranges. Japanese "defence" forces and capabilities are governed 100% by their constitution, written shortly after WW2. Despite attempts, no Japanese government has ever managed to change it in any significant way. Their defense forces (and the amount they spend on them) are globally unique. I once explained to a roomful of Japanese undergrads that their country spends the second largest sum (after US, in 1996) in military hardware on the planet. Thye just flat refused to believe me and said I was mistaken. In essence they overspend on "defense" assets because they are consitutionally prohibited from any form of power projection; any nuclear capability and because they have historic enemies with massive capabilities on their doorstep. They also build all their own stuff as well.
So it is as totally meaningless comparison (no offence
)
Compare us with Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc...if you want a more realistic measure, bearing in mind geographic differences.
Apples and oranges. Japanese "defence" forces and capabilities are governed 100% by their constitution, written shortly after WW2. Despite attempts, no Japanese government has ever managed to change it in any significant way. Their defense forces (and the amount they spend on them) are globally unique. I once explained to a roomful of Japanese undergrads that their country spends the second largest sum (after US, in 1996) in military hardware on the planet. Thye just flat refused to believe me and said I was mistaken. In essence they overspend on "defense" assets because they are consitutionally prohibited from any form of power projection; any nuclear capability and because they have historic enemies with massive capabilities on their doorstep. They also build all their own stuff as well.
So it is as totally meaningless comparison (no offence
)Compare us with Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc...if you want a more realistic measure, bearing in mind geographic differences.
Coastal Command
Caught this on Talking Pictures TV yesterday - then found that it's available on YouTube.
So for all you boat people, here it is (you'll need to click the YouTube link though):
The interior of the Sunderland was pretty spacious compared to the Shacklebomber or Nimrod!
So for all you boat people, here it is (you'll need to click the YouTube link though):
The interior of the Sunderland was pretty spacious compared to the Shacklebomber or Nimrod!
"without SSBNs or CVs, "
But they are building a number of "helicopter equipped destroyers" that can carry F-35's.............
But they are building a number of "helicopter equipped destroyers" that can carry F-35's.............
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F-35Bs on 2 x converted Izumu Class https://thediplomat.com/2018/12/japa...raft-carriers/
"Helicopter Destroyers" - similar misnomer fudge to RN "Through Deck Cruisers" which became the CVS.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izumo-...pter_destroyer
"Helicopter Destroyers" - similar misnomer fudge to RN "Through Deck Cruisers" which became the CVS.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izumo-...pter_destroyer
see post #332 just above for a picture
