Has Iran got missiles capable of hitting Akrotiri?

"well, they would say that wouldn't they... "

That would be a really unfortunate action by Iran, it would unite all against them, and they would have less support than they have already. It would get pretty hot around the area.

Pity we aren't sending any AEW aircraft to Cyprus - but then we have a "capability gap".

A few hundred mines dropped into the straits will stop the show for tankers, I hope there are "eyes on" the mine layers !

It operates in some of the worst water in the world for tracking, it has a quiet propulsion system in the later versions, and they have excellent sonar capabilities. They are likely to be nuclear munitions capable, and if they weren't, they will be before this tiff with Iran is over I would imagine. HDW/TKMS made good boats. Being small doesn't mean it can't bite.

The Times:

Britain on a war footing as it moves combat jets to Middle East

Britain is moving combat jets and other military aircraft to the Middle East just hours after Iran threatened to strike UK military bases in the region.

Sir Keir Starmer confirmed the military build-up yesterday as he revealed he had urged Binyamin Netanyahu to avoid a full-scale war with Tehran. However, Starmer refused to say whether Britain would assist Israel in shooting down Iranian missiles.

Speaking on his way to the G7 summit in Canada, which starts on Sunday, he said: “We are moving assets to the region, including jets, and that is for contingency support in the region. I will be clear-eyed in relation to our duties and obligations, and my duties as the prime minister of the United Kingdom.”….

The Ministry of Defence is sending an unspecified number of Eurofighter Typhoons to the region, as well as several Voyagers, which are air-to-air refuelling tankers. The UK already has a number of Typhoons and at least one #Voyager stationed in Cyprus, where they have been used in strikes on Isis militants as part of Operation Shader.

Downing Street #sources said the deployment of extra combat aircraft was a pre#cautionary measure, but the decision to bolster the UK’s military presence in the region is a clear sign that ministers increasingly fear the Israel-Iran conflict could soon drag in Israel’s western #partners…..

Once again the UK armed forces are ready pull another failed PMs arse out of the fire…

In regards to the F35's being shot down: Usual caveats apply...

It might be due to this post... httpshttps://x.com/amuse/status/1934114613878301000://x.com/amuse/status/1934114613878301000

X - Formerly Twitter

exactly what was Stammer supposed to do about Iran & Israel that the last 8 PM's didn't manage?

I don't understand why we are stretching our already thin armed forces to protect a known liar when we have a real threat of Russia on our doorstep.
Not to mention the amount of times Bibi slags off the UK without a modicum of gratitude to the amount of training and intelligence the IDF receives from the UK tax payer.

This is Iraq 2.0. It's all about regime change. Just a couple of months ago, the Americans acknowledge that the Iranians are not building nuclear weapons
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12106
That begs the question on the real reason for this attack. One theory is the legal troubles that have continuously surrounded Netanyahu which include corruption (after many delays, his trial is ment to begin this month but he's 'sick')
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-857401

I think simplistically, Israel is an extension of the US in the ME which affords plausible deniability while keeping a hegemony over the regions resources. What other nation, let alone 1st world, have received so much military aid in the past few decades.

The only winners here are BAE, Lockheed, MBDA, Boeing, and a select few who get cushty board roles upon retirement from government. Meanwhile death rains down on Tehran and Tel-Aviv.

What types are we talking about? Must be running short of Typhoons and I dare say F35b numbers will be reducing as they lose a few of those (on aircraft carrier deployments you always lose a few).The only aircraft left are Hawks; they've got rid of everything else.

Chevvron
 

Typhoon FGR4s. Numbers unknown.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/typh...show-of-force/

BV

Yep, I know that game.
My son often plays it :-)

And what about sufficient pilots to fly them?

Apparently they only need one pilot each, and I can't see any of them getting to Cyprus without a pilot on board.

It's great that Iran is able to use DCS even with sanctions going on. Was this the Botswanian F-35 version or the Somali ones?

Iran's attacks of civil centres seems to firmly put their leadership in the Russian version of ethics, not a great look, same bucket as North Korea.

The US giving the Israelis bunker busting bombs and regime change are the talking points and discussions on the Sunday shows today.

Must be the 4 plus Voyager that were in in the King’s Birthday flypast.

Yes.

https://missilethreat.csis.org/country/iran/

I’d not have a problem with deploying to protect Akrotiri in case of Tehran overreaching, but I don’t support getting active on Israel’s behalf. They have started something that I really think they need to finish alone. Their choice.

Honest question
 

Do you really believe that a nuclear Iran is even remotely likely to threaten the UK?

BV

According to Mr Blair and Mr Campbell a nuclear armed Iraq was a threat to the UK....

As to whether I personally believed that...

Netenyahu beating the same war drum back in 2002

Yet the IDF never got involved, leaving our countrymen to die in some pointless war

Next topic might be a campaign gong for Akrotiri?

Not repeat not that I would advocate that.

When the stakes are that high, it would be foolish to discount the possibility.

Hmm so much for his much-vaunted "neighborhood effect".

Maybe he should write a sequel on unintended consequences?

No-one believed this BS, least of all them

Whether they believed it or not, they used it to justify dragging this country into a war.

That was my point. In a hypothetical situation, Iran doesn't have to be a viable threat for the UK to end up at war with them (in coalition?).

Not that I can see Starmer doing so.

The UK had the means to do so in 2003.
The UK doesn't now.
I'd not be to worried about it.
I will offer a guess that Mr. Starmer is still far more concerned about the Ukraine/Russia thing.
(And if I am wrong, so be it).

Numerous reports and videos of between 6-10 car bomb explosions in Teheran. Other reports identify them as further targeted military leadership (including the head of Iranian military intelligence and his deputy) and more senior nuclear scientists.

To be carried by what?
The RAM can carry the GBU-28, but surely that's not enough to finish off Fordow.
That job would require the MOP, only carried by the B2 - and the suggestion is even that may not be up to the task.
Two lengthy EAMs broadcast in the last two days.
And Trump saying they `could' get involved.
I think there is already a plan for the US to join in and finish off the job using the MOPs - as only they can.

Wasn't there some big 'bunker buster' type bomb that they could drop out the back of a C130?

MOAB, I believe it’s called?

Is this what you are referring to (GBU-43)?

https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/P...to/2001732840/

I ask because it is C-130 delivered, but I don't recall it being a bunker buster style bomb.

Correct - the GBU-43/B - but that won't finish off Fordow. Unless there's some variant, or something else non-nuclear that we're not aware of: From Wiki (my highlights):

The MOAB is not a penetrator weapon and is primarily an air burst bomb intended for soft to medium surface targets covering extended areas and targets in a contained environment such as a deep canyon or within a cave system.[9

More detail on MOP here:
https://www.twz.com/air/massive-ordn...s-to-new-tests

That’s the one! No idea myself what it’s actually used for. Just heard it’s pretty big and goes off with a bit of a bang.

Apparently they're already working on a deeper penetrating but smaller, rocket assisted successor to the GBU-43.
I also read somewhere that there's a proven capability to land bunker buster bombs on top of one another in successive strikes to drill down to very deep targets.

Try a GBU-57 weighing in at 30,000 pounds....x2 per B-2 Bomber such as those forward deployed to Diego Garcia for no announced reason. Now that the live fire test on the Houthis went well.

https://maritime-executive.com/artic...-busting-bombs

https://fas.org/publication/half-of-...-diego-garcia/

The original concept of dropping very large bombs by parachute using C-130's began during the Vietnam War when 15,000 pound bombs with modified fuses were used to create instant LZ's in the Jungle.

Precsion weapons they were not back then.

I think that may have been the one nicknamed 'The Daisy Cutter' for self evident reasons. Happy to be corrected.

I am fine if we and the Israelis bounce pebbles. Enough of these theocracies threatening the existence of our species.

- Ed