Orac,
Not disputing anything you've just written, but having worked with our cousins across the pond, the last 3 words of this part made me laugh out loud. systems like the P-8A Poseidon draw on decades of experience with acoustic systems, using passive and active sonobuoys to detect and pin down the target -- and human expertise. Thanks |
The Key Aero site is reporting a PFI as imminent with the MoD using reengined and modified Catalinas for MPA starting operations by 2019. Then I noticed the date!
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Sentinel for Maritime Survilance
taken from Future Martime Surveillance (2nd April 2012)
from Raytheon UK suggest that these aircraft can be use in maritime surveillance at not a lot of cost. "The Dual Mode Radar Sensor (DMRS) fitted to the Sentinel R Mk1 is currently tuned for operation in the ground environment. However, with only minor changes to the mission system computing, a maritime mode could be introduced that would enable the detection of surface vessels, and potentially submarine periscopes. This supplementary mode would not degrade performance of the DMRS in the Land environment, where it has recently demonstrated such effective operational utility in both Libya and Afghanistan. [/B]A similar maritime radar mode has already been proven and fielded within the United States (US) Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) solution, the sister radar to the UK DMRS. Further capability enhancement of the Sentinel R Mk1 platform could be achieved through an incremental upgrade programme, adding additional sensors relevant to the maritime domain, such as Automatic Identification System, and Signals Intelligence." is the cunning plan for the Sentinel post 'stan pull out???? |
Further capability enhancement of the Sentinel R Mk1 platform could be achieved through an incremental upgrade programme, adding additional sensors relevant to the maritime domain, such as Automatic Identification System, and Signals Intelligence." (I am not saying that the Sentry is an MPA either, God forbid - it just has the capability that the Sentinel is advertising and much more besides). |
Found this article this morning
MoD to buy U.S. spy planes months after axing £4.1bn fleet of Nimrods | Mail Online When I went looking for it later, it wasn't quite as prominent. More scathing readers' comments than compliments at the bottom. |
Buy P-3's or x-IN Il-18's
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Mail Online appears to have dropped the story now.
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MoD noticed it! Their riposte below may have had something to do with its disappearance.
Nimrod MRA4 The Daily Mail today claims that the MOD is considering buying a replacement for the Nimrod MRA4. This is not true. The paper has inaccurately reported the comments made by Air Vice-Marshal Mark Green at a House of Commons Defence Committee meeting yesterday. He was answering a hypothetical question asked by the Committee about which aircraft the MOD would look to buy if it was felt a replacement was required. We assessed the implications of removing Nimrod from service and are confident the threat can be managed without the need for a replacement maritime patrol aircraft. We constantly monitor the threat but there is no evidence to suggest our assessment will change in the short term. We are buying a number of Rivet Joint aircraft, known as Airseeker, which will provide the UK's airborne signals intelligence capability until 2025. This is not because of a gap left by the MRA4, as the Daily Mail suggests, as it will replace the Nimrod R1 which is not a maritime surveillance aircraft. The RAF is deploying maritime-experienced aircrew to operate alongside international partners on a range of aircraft where our reconnaissance and surveillance skills are being exploited. We are also using other military assets for maritime patrol, including frigates, Merlin helicopters and Hercules aircraft. The decision in the Strategic Defence and Security Review not to bring the Nimrod MRA4 into service was difficult but our ability to operate maritime patrol aircraft is being maintained. Only one Nimrod MRA4 had been delivered to the RAF and it had not passed air worthiness tests, the project was hundreds of millions of pounds over budget, years late, and needed considerable extra funding to rectify long-running technical problems. |
of course it did - there was no link to Cancer, Immigration, Houseprices or Princess Diana in the story...
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We assessed the implications of removing Nimrod from service and are confident the threat can be managed without the need for a replacement maritime patrol aircraft. We constantly monitor the threat but there is no evidence to suggest our assessment will change in the short term. *as well as "Coo, Lord Astor, what a little willy!" |
No evidence, cos we aren't looking, and besides we can't see submarines without an MPA so they're not there? lalalalalalaaaaa :}
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the written submisions in HANSARD make interesting reading from the 2nd April
House of Commons - Defence Committee - Written Evidence |
One less competitor in the Fincastle we say. That can't be bad!:D
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One less competitor in the Fincastle we say. |
It seems that the MoD have been upset by the AVM's honest answer and have put out a smoke screen with a blatant attempt to recontextualise the AVM's answer by alleging with complete dishonesty that the question was a hypothetical one about what type of aeroplane the gap filler might be. That question was asked, but much later in the session to which the answer was: "There is no active consideration nor an active requirement to buy an MPA at the moment. Any decision along those lines would be part of the SDSR 2015......The Seedcorn initiative gives us decision space till 2019". You can watch the whole session on the Parliament TV website, if you wish. It was wrong of the Daily Mail to suggest that anyone said the answer would be P-8 and my guess would be CN295 as a more likely outcome. It is sad also that the MoD once again fall back on the excuse of major problems with the MRA4 aeroplane, a fairly recent policy line and one they were too afraid to make in 2010, when there were more people around who knew the truth and were in a position to protest.
Incidentally the Daily Mail article is still viewable on line. Watch out for the next headline: "AVM Green to be OC RAF Kinloss".;) EG |
One less competitor in the Fincastle we say. That can't be bad! |
Ref the link by xv208 Snoopy to Hansard.
Sqn Ldr Rab Forbes. Outstanding. :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D |
Scuttled,
Well said - I completely agree. |
Ref posts 258 and 259
I concur!!! |
Excellent. I wonder if any MPs read, understood and took notice. Probably not as there aren't any immediate votes in it.
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