RAF Poseidon - Not too long to wait?
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Crew shortages featuring today’s Sunday Times Scottish edition..
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/r...crew-bwsc6wgx7
RAF’s Poseidon sub hunter not fully operational due to lack of crew
A £2.2 billion Scottish-based fleet of aircraft intended to monitor Russian submarine movements is not fully operational because the RAF lacks crews to fly them.
The last of nine high-tech Poseidon sub-hunting jets arrived at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray in January but The Sunday Times has learnt there are only enough crews trained up to fly five of them, despite concerns about Russian submarine activity now reaching Cold War levels…..
James Heappey, the Armed Forces minister, revealed in a parliamentary written answer that only five Poseidon crews and two contingents of instructors had been trained by this January. He said that a further 16 RAF personnel began training to operate the Poseidon in March but defence sources say that they won’t be ready for action until early next year. It had originally planned that 18 crews would be trained up to operate the Poseidons.….
In a statement the RAF said: “All nine of our Poseidon aircraft are flying regularly on crew training and on operations, including Russia-facing tasks. Over the next two years the RAF will increase its annual flying rate as crew numbers build to full operating capability in 2024.”
A senior RAF source denied any of the planes were in storage. He said the RAF had decided to prioritise buying the aircraft because the US manufacturer, Boeing, offered a discount if the UK tagged on its order to a production run already under way for the US, Australia and Norway.
Covid-related issues also caused delays installing simulators at Lossiemouth to allow training to step up, said the source.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/r...crew-bwsc6wgx7
RAF’s Poseidon sub hunter not fully operational due to lack of crew
A £2.2 billion Scottish-based fleet of aircraft intended to monitor Russian submarine movements is not fully operational because the RAF lacks crews to fly them.
The last of nine high-tech Poseidon sub-hunting jets arrived at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray in January but The Sunday Times has learnt there are only enough crews trained up to fly five of them, despite concerns about Russian submarine activity now reaching Cold War levels…..
James Heappey, the Armed Forces minister, revealed in a parliamentary written answer that only five Poseidon crews and two contingents of instructors had been trained by this January. He said that a further 16 RAF personnel began training to operate the Poseidon in March but defence sources say that they won’t be ready for action until early next year. It had originally planned that 18 crews would be trained up to operate the Poseidons.….
In a statement the RAF said: “All nine of our Poseidon aircraft are flying regularly on crew training and on operations, including Russia-facing tasks. Over the next two years the RAF will increase its annual flying rate as crew numbers build to full operating capability in 2024.”
A senior RAF source denied any of the planes were in storage. He said the RAF had decided to prioritise buying the aircraft because the US manufacturer, Boeing, offered a discount if the UK tagged on its order to a production run already under way for the US, Australia and Norway.
Covid-related issues also caused delays installing simulators at Lossiemouth to allow training to step up, said the source.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Boeing awarded contract by USN for full-rate production of High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability (HAAWC).
Glide kit that allows Mk54 torpedo to be dropped by P-8A Poseidon from cruising altitude. Likley to be purchased by UK.
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news...from-u-s-navy/
Glide kit that allows Mk54 torpedo to be dropped by P-8A Poseidon from cruising altitude. Likley to be purchased by UK.
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news...from-u-s-navy/
Perhaps Boing could employ the Ukrainians to do some operational testing? There a a few subs in the Black Sea that could do with a good sinking to stop them launching cruise missiles at innocent women and children
Originally Posted by ORAC
Boeing awarded contract by USN for full-rate production of High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability (HAAWC).
Glide kit that allows Mk54 torpedo to be dropped by P-8A Poseidon from cruising altitude. Likley to be purchased by UK.
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news...from-u-s-navy/
Glide kit that allows Mk54 torpedo to be dropped by P-8A Poseidon from cruising altitude. Likley to be purchased by UK.
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news...from-u-s-navy/
How do you get a submarine to high-altitude I wonder.... ?
"Contact!, 3,000 yds, doppler high.... gotta shaft 'n blade"
"got 'im, 12 O'clock High.... "
"Certsub!, one of those new Z for Zeppelin babies.... "
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
I am reminded of a story from the 70s of an ATC somewhere in Africa insisting a departure set a QNH which placed them several hundred feet underground.
When asked for their passing altitude after take-off the captain reportedly replied, “Six fathoms, rising”……
When asked for their passing altitude after take-off the captain reportedly replied, “Six fathoms, rising”……
The RAF is buying Mk 54 torpedoes to avoid the need for integration of Stingray onto P-8A and to maintain commonality with the USN and Norway.
It could therefore also buy the HAAWC kits.
It could therefore also buy the HAAWC kits.
USN P8’s are now getting the ability to launch Torpedoes from cruise heights i.e up near 30,000 feet
https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-w...151069.article
https://militaryleak.com/2022/11/23/...boeings-haawc/
https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-w...151069.article
https://militaryleak.com/2022/11/23/...boeings-haawc/
