UK Strategic Defence Review 2020 - get your bids in now ladies & gents

[ORAC]

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-...to-next-phase/

New British helicopter programme moves into next phase

The next stage of the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) Programme has been announced by the Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, today.

The Ministry of Defence say that the NMH Programme is an initiative to acquire a modern medium-lift support helicopter, which will deliver up to five rotary wing requirements using a single aircraft-type.

“This means that the platform will be able to undertake Defence tasks that were previously undertaken by up to five different aircraft types, streamlining our capabilities. This will improve efficiency and operational flexibility, positively impacting ongoing and future UK operational capability. Once in service, it will provide the Armed Forces with a new medium lift aircraft capable of operating in all environments in support of a broad spectrum of Defence tasks, from warfighting to humanitarian efforts and operations around the world.

It was announced at the International Military Helicopter conference in London today that the Invitation to Negotiate has been released, meaning the three NMH candidate suppliers – Airbus Helicopters UK, Leonardo Helicopters UK and Lockheed Martin UK – will now compile their bids to be evaluated by the Ministry of Defence to determine the winning bidder.”

The competition will be managed by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) and proposals will be evaluated through 2025 when, subject to Government approvals, a contract award is anticipated.

Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge said:

“The New Medium Helicopter will provide essential support to our military operations, and we’re pleased to have reached this next important stage of the programme.

The programme’s competition includes essential criteria that are key to securing vital rotary wing Operational Independence, allowing us to respond swiftly to emerging threats in a highly contested world.”….

[rattman]

Originally Posted by Not_a_boffin

There's a coven of purist system engineers who will burn you at the stake for the crime of solutioneering.
Ya heathen.

Its got so many pros, off the top of my head,
uses same engines as your new apaches,
so many versions, want naval helicopter got the seahawk. (every hangar on a naval ship in compatable with them), want a SOF got the pavehawk, want a SAR got the Jayhawk,
Used by Aukus Allies
Used by 30 other countries
Thousands of airframes flying, billions in spare parts available where ever you go in the world

Negative. Umm guess you cant stand in the cabin (not really a negative but I have to put something)

[Bob Viking]

Apologies for the source

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-spending.html

Oh dear. No more money.

BV

[ORAC]

Not sure how this will feed across to AUKUS SSN, except perhaps as an XLUUV compartment….

https://x.com/navylookout/status/176...HhlFHGKbTPQr_A

The Royal Navy’s future vision for the underwater battlespace.

​​​​​​​https://www.navylookout.com/the-roya...r-battlespace/

[ORAC]

GB News…… 🙄

[Mogwi]

Should have gone to Specsavers!

Mog

[artee]

Originally Posted by ORAC

The Royal Navy’s future vision for the underwater battlespace.

​​​​​​​https://www.navylookout.com/the-roya...r-battlespace/

It looks like their Underwater F-35 is no longer part of the plan

Hat, coat...

[Davef68]

"Review" of new Chinook ER procurement plan. Reduction in numbers or cancellation? (It's already been pushed back - original plan was for 14 airframes)

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is to review its plan to acquire new Boeing H-47 Extended Range (ER) Chinook helicopters later in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024, ahead of any decision on final numbers.

Minister of State at the MoD James Cartlidge made the disclosure on 15 February, telling the House of Commons, “The Review Note for the Chinook extended range helicopter programme is due to be assessed by the MoD Investment Approvals Committee in quarter 1 2024, and will inform any future decisions affecting the current programme of record.”

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/d...buy-in-q1-2024

[Not_a_boffin]

Originally Posted by Davef68

"Review" of new Chinook ER procurement plan. Reduction in numbers or cancellation? (It's already been pushed back - original plan was for 14 airframes)




https://www.janes.com/defence-news/d...buy-in-q1-2024

Bit more explanation in the Oral Evidence session to the HCDC a week later - albeit polluted by Penfolds grandstanding.

committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/14318/pdf/

Questions 178-184 for anyone interested.

[Davef68]

Originally Posted by Not_a_boffin

Bit more explanation in the Oral Evidence session to the HCDC a week later - albeit polluted by Penfolds grandstanding.

committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/14318/pdf/

Questions 178-184 for anyone interested.

Thanks, hadn't seen that yet - he is a bit of a, well, lets just say 'character'

[ORAC]

This just the Army, or do the RAF and RN have a similar scheme? Assuming they can spare the people of course…..

https://x.com/pinstripedline/status/...HhlFHGKbTPQr_A

Great chance for serving soldiers to get the British Army to pay for your academic career development - people in civvy street pay thousands for training like this!

​​​​​​​https://x.com/lsw_rmas/status/176471...HhlFHGKbTPQr_A

Got a defence related area you want to study in depth?? For serving British Army soldiers and officers latest round of funded External Placements (Academic) starting in 25/26 now out - see ACO 2024/001 - deadline 10 June 24….


​​​​​​​

[SLXOwft]

Originally Posted by Davef68

Thanks, hadn't seen that yet - he is a bit of a, well, lets just say 'character'

I would use something more 'earthy'. Though I think he may be right about the money, and Lt Gen Magowan may have got his currencies mixed up, as I am pretty sure the announced deal was for USD 1.96 billion, which is GBP 1.54 billion at today's rate.

If airframes introduced the same number of years ago as the oldest current Chinooks were were in service at the time the RN frontline squadrons would have been using updated Swordfish and the RAF's Ansons and Fairey Hendons. Wanting to replace what I assume are pretty tired aircraft with a modern more capabable version seems very sensible, 14 at USD or GCP 1.5 Billion appears a pretty good deal when the original FMS announcement was 16 at USD 3.5 Billion.

I assume that the Chinook ER purchase was/is intended to support 7 Squadrons SF commitments and as Lt Gen Magowan said is dependent on HMG requiring a particular subset of potential tasking.

My understanding after the 2021 review, was that the total force was to reduce to 51. 23 older airframes were to go: 9 withdrawals with out replacement, and 14 to be replaced by the ERs. Not quite sure how the numbers stack up; this year started with 27 airframes that were originally HC.1s but two have since been reported as wfu. Granted they have been upgraded, but they all first flew between 1980 and 1985. Apparently the move of ZA718 "BN" to RAFM Cosford was the first of the 9, another three have been reported as wfu but they include two which first flew in 1997 & 1998 which were delivered as HC.2s.

[ORAC]

https://x.com/pinstripedline/status/...HhlFHGKbTPQr_A

Big Times scoop here- 216 Sqn, reformed in 2020 to trial drones, has completed no trials, made no recommendations, and has just 7 full & part time military personnel.

Sharp contrast to other nations experiences and outcomes.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/8...6d5bf7fdfb03b7

​​​​​​​

[artee]

Originally Posted by ORAC

Big Times scoop here- 216 Sqn, reformed in 2020 to trial drones, has completed no trials, made no recommendations, and has just 7 full & part time military personnel.

Sharp contrast to other nations experiences and outcomes.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/8...6d5bf7fdfb03b7

​​​​​​​

From The Times article
“The effectiveness of UK armed forces comes from our state of the art equipment operated by our exceptional personnel and cannot be judged solely by numbers of platforms or people.”

Is that a new way of saying non-quantity has a quality of its own?

[ORAC]

https://www.twz.com/land/british-arm...ot-down-drones

British Army Paratroopers Get Computerized Rifle Sights To Shoot Down Drones

[Davef68]

Originally Posted by SLXOwft

I would use something more 'earthy'. Though I think he may be right about the money, and Lt Gen Magowan may have got his currencies mixed up, as I am pretty sure the announced deal was for USD 1.96 billion, which is GBP 1.54 billion at today's rate.

It was originally announced in May 2021 as 1.4 billion GBP but later an extra £300m added to it due to delays. . The original 2018 FMS approval (for 16 airframes) quoted $3.5 billion!!!

I assume that the Chinook ER purchase was/is intended to support 7 Squadrons SF commitments and as Lt Gen Magowan said is dependent on HMG requiring a particular subset of potential tasking.

Trying to get dedicated specialist SF Chinooks has been ongoing since the HC3 order (and subsequent debacle) - the exact profile of the Chinook ER hasn't been public revealed, but something similar to the MH-47G has been speculated.

[NutLoose]

Time to dust down those old Andover... VC10.. internal tanks again

[SLXOwft]

Originally Posted by Davef68

- the exact profile of the Chinook ER hasn't been public revealed, but something similar to the MH-47G has been speculated.

And IMO nor should it be, except in the most general terms. I did read somewhere it won't be fitted with a refuelling probe.

One does wonder what, beyond two airframes and their corresponding quantities of the equipment listed, what has been dropped from the list in the FMS request (and anything not listed) to get the massive price reduction.

The Government of United Kingdom has requested a possible sale of sixteen (16) H-47 Chinook (Extended Range) helicopters; thirty-six (36) T-55-GA-714A engines (32 installed, 4 spares); forty-eight (48) embedded GPS inertial navigation units (32 installed, 16 spares); twenty (20) common missile warning systems (16 installed, 4 spares); twenty-two (22) radio-frequency countermeasures (16 installed, 6 spares); nineteen (19) multi-mode radars (16 installed, 3 spares); nineteen (19) electro-optical sensor systems (16 installed, 3 spares); forty (40) M-134D-T mini* guns, plus mounts and tools (32 installed, 8 spares); and forty (40) M240H machine guns, plus mounts and tools (32 installed, 8 spares). This sale also includes communications equipment; navigation equipment; aircraft survivability equipment; initial training equipment and services; synthetic training equipment; support package including spares and repair parts; special tools and test equipment; aviation ground support equipment; safety and air worthiness certification; technical support; maintenance support; technical and aircrew publications; mission planning system equipment and support; and, project management and governance; U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistic and program support. Total estimated cost is $3.5 billion.

Penfold and his ilk's beef with the ER order appears to be a lack of UK pork to counterbalance the money being spent with a US corporation. He clearly needs someone to explain to him, in words of one syllable, the additional costs of having multiple types for one capability and the cost inflation and delays related to fitting non-standard UK kit to an existing certified type. (And don't let on the Germans have customer specific mods to their order of 60 CH-47Fs) https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/maj...ok-helicopters

The original FMS stated 'The principal contractor of this sale will be Boeing Defense and Space, Ridley Park, PA. There is no known offset agreement associated with this proposed sale.'

Boeing's UK website states there are '45 UK suppliers, delivering for the global fleet and supporting UK sustainment and training.' but gives no value to the contribuition.

The company's evidence to the HCDC's Future Aviation Capabilities Enquiry dated 31 October 2023 can be downloaded from here https://committees.parliament.uk/wri...ce/126234/pdf/

[Asturias56]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68499693Labour now intends to pay for its NHS and school breakfast plans through future savings to public spending if it wins power, Rachel Reeves has said.

The party had planned to fund the flagship policies by replacing the UK's current "non-dom" tax regime. But Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced the same move at Wednesday's Budget, to fund a cut to National Insurance. His Labour counterpart Ms Reeves has admitted it will force her to tweak her own plans.

Speaking to the BBC, she said Labour would now "go through every pound" in the government's spending plans to fund the policies. "But we will find that money, because it is a national priority, and its is a Labour priority," she added.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Ms Reeves signalled Labour now plans to fund their plans through savings to future government spending, rather than an alternative tax rise.

"We will identify the savings we can make to fund this," she said, underlining the party's election manifesto would be "fully costed and fully funded".

But she did not offer further details, adding the party would first need to go through the government's plans in an "orderly way" before it would be in a position to do so.

[Davef68]

Originally Posted by SLXOwft

And IMO nor should it be, except in the most general terms. I did read somewhere it won't be fitted with a refuelling probe.

No, although FMS details scream 'MH57G' in all but name (IIRC there is a block on exporting the 'G', so with a few modifications Chinook ER might be a way round that). As originally delivered, I think HC3 was fitted for, but not with RF probe. one may have briefly carried a probe.

One does wonder what, beyond two airframes and their corresponding quantities of the equipment listed, what has been dropped from the list in the FMS request (and anything not listed) to get the massive price reduction.

I do wonder if the £1.4 billion is the airframe acquisition cost and not the support and through life costs.

Penfold and his ilk's beef with the ER order appears to be a lack of UK pork to counterbalance the money being spent with a US corporation. He clearly needs someone to explain to him, in words of one syllable, the additional costs of having multiple types for one capability and the cost inflation and delays related to fitting non-standard UK kit to an existing certified type.

He seems to have a thing about Boeing, but they are the company that has the toys we want. The irony that the Boeing project that's worst preforming in terms of delay (Wedgetail) is the one with the most UK offset appears lost on him (although fingers are pointed at Boeing over that)