Given what the PM said about spending more on "....new spy aircraft....":

Defence review: Spend more on SAS and drones - Cameron - BBC News

Would it be feasible to buy more than 3 of these aircraft if the UK government actually wanted to?

We would be better off spending the money on a tanker capability that makes the 3 we are getting more useful. It could provide an independence from the USAF tanker fleet too.

What the? Ahead of schedule? This just won't do!!

On the other hand, a senior manager once told me he'd fire any programme manager who came in under time or budget or who boasted on exceeded specification.

In all cases they'd not done their job properly and, depending on the contract, either undercharged or overcharged for the work done.....

So, does 51 have the crews to support the ac? last I heard was that moral was pretty low on the Sqn, with extended periods in the sates unaccompanied and then straight onto ops.............

Confirmed at this end:

RAF Airseeker Intelligence Aircraft

Is a/c #3 still doing airworthiness trials? IIRC it's entry into the conversion program was delayed by 6 months, so if #2 is seven months early, does this mean #3 won't start for another 13 months?

Can't beleive they are actually calling it Airseeker.

That's just a DE&Sism. The aircraft document set still calls it the RC-135W Rivet Joint.

from memory -wasn't Airseeker the name for the 'capability' i.e the air platform, the ground support 'down-stations' and the crews?

JTO

probably London, not DE&S. IIRC an OR SO1 once called a programme DICS - he was a Richard. :D

That was what people said anytime it being a stupid name for an aeroplane was mentioned - it's the name for the program; It's just the code for the overall project etc.

However, as a few suspected it might, the PR bods at least are trying to call it Airseeker....

I have never liked Airseeker, it seems to have crept in from the capability name. If Rivet Joint is not acceptable, I think Guardian would be a good name, part of the ISTAR Triad with Sentry and Sentinel, unless someone can think of a name under the same theme beginning with "S"?

Serendipitous.....?

The Senile?

SAGA.......

Surreptitious...

Sneaky-beaky.

Stupid?



Ok, I didn't mean that.

My concern over this procurement is that in the R1 era the a/c and its systems had capabilities that differentiated it from the RJ and hence the U.S. Valued the UK input as it filled a niche coalition requirement, as well as a unique UK need. Now, unless the UK RJ is fitted with different kit to the U.S. Ones, the RAF can just replicate what the U.S. Can already deliver.

Senior O's will call it Airseeker, the rest* will call it RJ.

*non-chisellers.

Shepherd?

ACW

In the official Defence Taxonomy on the electronic filing system it's Rivet Joint.