UK MOD in a muddle over F-35C

‘Stupid’ rumours that Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales could be scrapped are quashed by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson

https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/defen ... 872790/amp

‘We have made a multi-billion pound investment in these two great aircraft carriers,’ he said. ‘It would be bizarre and stupid to look at canning one of those aircraft carriers after that multi-billion pound investment.’

Pressed further on whether this meant the carriers were safe from the chop, he insisted: ‘There are no plans to get rid of either of those mighty aircraft carriers.’

Naval pilots take F-35 Lightnings overseas for first time
08 Apr 2019 RN PR

"The first overseas deployment by Royal Navy jet pilots in a decade will be to Cyprus – when UK F-35s leave home skies for the first time. Two months of training in the eastern Mediterranean is lined up for the men and women of the Lightning Force and their state-of-the-art stealth fighters – preparation for their first spell of training aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth this autumn....

...The spell in Cyprus is not solely about testing the air crews and their cutting-edge jets in clear, less-cluttered skies. Testing will also include some live firing. The deployment will also train and test all aspects of moving the F-35 aircraft to a new location – including all the logistic support, maintenance, and personnel required to get the Lightning off the ground.

“This first overseas deployment of these world-beating British F-35s to RAF Akrotiri – together with their embarkation in HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time in the autumn – are important milestones to prove their readiness for deployed operations anywhere in the world in defence of our national interests,” said First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones....

...Once the Mediterranean deployment is complete the Lightnings will return to Norfolk to gear up to sail with HMS Queen Elizabeth to the Eastern Seaboard of the USA in the late summer/early autumn.

So far all the F-35s operating from Marham serve with the RAF’s legendary 617 Squadron – the Dambusters – although two in every five personnel on the squadron are Royal Navy. As part of the UK’s intention to buy more than 130 Lightnings, a second F-35 squadron will form next decade under Fleet Air Arm tutelage, 809 NAS."

Source: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... first-time

Hopefully the F-35 provides an adequate air defense umbrella,to prevent future issues similar to the Exocet strike decades ago in the Falklands war.

That was a big deal, and I'm not sure the Royal Navy ever developed the necessary air defense to prevent it. Maybe Sea Harriers with better radars and AMRAAM, but even that would be somewhat hamstrung given advances in air to sear missiles.

In much the same way as the USN's dilemma with Russian/Chinese carrier killer cruise missiles..

Not sure why the later SeaKing helo 'bagger' EW aircraft are not mentioned. Today the RN have MERLIN CrowsNest Helos with radar & they are confident the fleet defence aspect is OK. https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/crowsn ... n-the-sky/

MOREon the NEW BAGGER....

Royal Navy’s New Crowsnest Completes First Flight
07 Apr 2019 Grant Turnbull

"The first Leonardo Merlin HM.2 helicopter fitted with the Crowsnest Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC) system has completed its first flight. Prime contractor Lockheed Martin UK confirmed that the designated trials aircraft took off from Leonardo Helicopters’ Yeovil facility fitted with Crowsnest on March 28 to begin aero-mechanical flight trials....

...The Crowsnest program will see the Royal Navy regain an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) capability for its surface fleet, with a primary focus on the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers. The new system is expected to achieve initial operational capability in 2020 and will form a key part of the navy’s future Carrier Enabled Power Projection (CEPP) capability. In the past, this AEW&C capability was provided by the Sea King ASaC.7 (SKASaC) fleet until the type’s retirement in 2018....

...The Merlin HM.2 Crowsnest will use improved missions systems and hardware originally developed for the SKASaC fleet, including the distinctive “bag” radome that houses the Thales Searchwater radar and swivels down below the aircraft during flight from the port-side weapon station. The mechanically scanned radar will offer long-range air, maritime, and land detection and tracking capability, and also feature fully integrated electronic support measures. The radar and associated Cerberus mission system, also supplied by Thales, have evolved for the Merlin HM.2 to include new radar modes, as well as human-machine interface enhancements such as touchscreen technology...."

Photo: "The Crowsnest trials helicopter got airborne for the first time on March 28. The "bag" radome for the Searchwater radar remained in its stowed position throughout the maiden hop. (Photo: Leonardo Helicopters)" https://www.ainonline.com/sites/default ... /pic_0.jpg

Source: https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news ... rst-flight

Why did they not palatalize it and hang it out the back?

Without really caring about the details IIRC the BAG more or less is the same as before but upgraded inside the new helo.

See previous post above last (3rd) paragraph.

Japan seeks visit from British aircraft carrier to counter regional rivals: sources
09 Apr 2019 Julian Ryall

"Japan wants Britain to emphasise bilateral security ties by sending its newest aircraft carrier to the country as soon as possible, the South China Morning Post has learned.... It is not expected to fully enter service until next year, but Tokyo is “very keen” that its first deployment include a visit to a Japanese port, according to an official who was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter.

Gavin Williamson, the UK’s defence secretary, announced in February that the new warship would be sent to the Pacific region in 2021. He made no mention of where it would dock, however. The two countries have undertaken a number of joint security and defence initiatives in recent years, and a port call by the British aircraft carrier on its maiden voyage would serve to underline this enhanced partnership to Japan’s regional rivals, the source in Tokyo said....

...“If HMS Queen Elizabeth comes to the Pacific, it won’t do anything approaching what US warships have done in the South China Sea and challenge the 12-mile limit [of territorial sovereignty] around those islands. I expect it will carry out ‘innocent passage’ beyond the 12-mile limit.

“But I also think that will please Japan as there is great symbolism attached to an aircraft carrier of a member of the UN Security Council and a G7 member state operating in the South China Sea and travelling on to Japan to reinforce the strategic partnership.”..."

Source: https://amp.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asi ... r-regional

Panel discusses [US] naval aviation’s future at Sea Air Space expo
07 May 2019 NAVAIR PAO

"...Rudder [Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder, Marine Corps deputy commandant for aviation] also expressed excitement over the planned deployment of Marine Corps F-35B Lightning IIs aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) during the new British carrier’s first operational tour. “It’s going to be a wonderful, new way, and I would offer, potentially, a new norm of doing coalition combined allied operations in a maritime environment,” he said.

As for the Navy’s ultimate replacement for the F/A-18 Super Hornet, the service just finished its analysis of alternatives for the Next Generation Air Dominance program, with results expected back later this year, Knappenberger [Angie Knappenberger, deputy director of air warfare in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations] said."

Source: http://www.navair.navy.mil/news/Panel-d ... 72019-0032

[quote="spazsinbad"][quote]Panel discusses [US] naval aviation’s future at Sea Air Space expo
07 May 2019 NAVAIR PAO

"...Rudder [Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder, Marine Corps deputy commandant for aviation] also expressed excitement over the planned deployment of Marine Corps F-35B Lightning IIs aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) during the new British carrier’s first operational tour.


“It’s going to be a wonderful, new way, and I would offer, potentially, a new norm of doing coalition combined allied operations in a maritime environment,” he said.

Thanks General.....Why should the UK buy it's full complement of F-35B's. When the US will provide USMC F-35B's for Carrier Deployments. Because in his own words "a new norm"???

Methinks you read to much into it. Co-operation amongst F-35 flying countries has been 'the norm' from the GETgo. No?

Corsair1963, the RAF/RN F-35 inter-service rivalry over models will ensure pressure on more F-35 still being bought by UK. In fact if Tempest is late or even cancelled there might even be more than 138 bought eventually. Also the fact that there are two different models to choose from apart from the F-35B ensures more interest, for instance what if Tempest isn't ready when the Tranche 1 Typhoons are due for retirement in the 2030s ? What if traps are decided to be put on the QE Carriers in a MLU ? Quite a lot of future opportunities lie in the decades ahead for the F-35 in the UK.

Corsair1963, the RAF/RN F-35 inter-service rivalry over models will ensure pressure on more F-35 still being bought by UK. In fact if Tempest is late or even cancelled there might even be more than 138 bought eventually. Also the fact that there are two different models to choose from apart from the F-35B ensures more interest, for instance what if Tempest isn't ready when the Tranche 1 Typhoons are due for retirement in the 2030s ? What if traps are decided to be put on the QE Carriers in a MLU ? Quite a lot of future opportunities lie in the decades ahead for the F-35 in the UK.

X2

Not to mention the lucrative 15% build factor they smartly trousered very early in the program .

They can install traps on QE, but all they lose is deck space and gain a loss of deck space. No gains.