UK Confirms 9 Boeing P-8's to be purchased

[Contrail1958]

We are days away from being told that we are having P-8 .
Waddo is struggling with getting competent tradesmen to lay the
basics.

[page_verify]

No one muttered when the RC-135 replaced the Nimrod R1 overnight either.

Well that's not my recollection. There was major gum chumping on this very forum over the replacement of an old, but top of its class, aeroplane with an even older (and not so efficient) one. Mind you - a lot had to do with the crews.

Al

Not sure FighterControl influences the UK's sigint planning I'd suggest part of the MPA's role isn't up for discussion about which country's systems can get involved - hence P-8 with no competition.

[onemac]

I'd suggest part of the MPA's role isn't up for discussion about which country's systems can get involved - hence P-8 with no competition.

I think we're all aware that the 'A' in NATO doesn't stand for Atlantic I'm voting Democrat in the next election - or is it Republican? Must ask my uncle Walt over in Washington.

Al

[R1nger]

Re Kinwhatever it's called. Don't forget that RAFG stations such as Laarbruch had Sapper units based alongside RAF Squadrons on the theory that they were available for emergency runway repair.
Second, what makes you think that the FJ units at Lossie would hesitate to move to Kinlost? Close Lossie and stand up there.

[scimitar]

Article in The Courier today about P8's and Leuchars.

Cammy

[RubyRoo]

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/ ... e-1.907104

The link for those interested.

[Bluetail]

Its just speculation by the Courier more in hope than fact. After Waddington there are only two bases in the frame and that is Lossiemouth or Kinloss. And to confirm the runway, most of the airfield infrastructure and ATC infrastructure is retained fully operational at Kinloss to support Lossiemouth.

[Ben Montgomery]

No one muttered when the RC-135 replaced the Nimrod R1 overnight either.

Well that's not my recollection. There was major gum chumping on this very forum over the replacement of an old, but top of its class, aeroplane with an even older (and not so efficient) one. Mind you - a lot had to do with the crews.

Al

Not sure FighterControl influences the UK's sigint planning

Course we do! I'm just putting the finishing touches to SDSR2015 now.

[sonicbenj]

Course we do! I'm just putting the finishing touches to SDSR2015 now.

In that case the RAF could do with a squadron of B-1s, and I propose Fairford as their operational base.

[johnwayne]

Course we do! I'm just putting the finishing touches to SDSR2015 now.

In that case the RAF could do with a squadron of B-1s, and I propose Fairford as their operational base.

We could name the C.O's bird 'Sir Lancerlot'.

[thorny1a]

Course we do! I'm just putting the finishing touches to SDSR2015 now.

In that case the RAF could do with a squadron of B-1s, and I propose Fairford as their operational base.

I'll second that Bad to the bone... B-B-B-B-Bad

[ColintheCaterpillar]

Its just speculation by the Courier more in hope than fact. After Waddington there are only two bases in the frame and that is Lossiemouth or Kinloss. And to confirm the runway, most of the airfield infrastructure and ATC infrastructure is retained fully operational at Kinloss to support Lossiemouth.

Indeed. The RAF has been downsizing its estate and I doubt the DIO would be in any mood to operate another airfield again with the infra changes bound to be required as an MOB.

[Gary]

Grim article on the Sunday times website

MoD sinks £2bn sub-hunter jet deal

THE Ministry of Defence is understood to have dropped a £2bn plan to buy a fleet of US-made submarine-hunting jets for the RAF.

The proposed purchase of up to nine P-8 Poseidon aircraft was expected to be the centrepiece of the government’s forthcoming defence review, but sources say the project has been shelved after ministers decided the aircraft were “fiendishly expensive”.

The move has raised fears that Britain’s four Vanguard nuclear deterrent submarines and the navy’s new £6bn aircraft carriers could be inadequately protected.

Senior retired RAF officers argued earlier this year that Britain’s nuclear deterrent has been left vulnerable after plans to update a fleet of Nimrod submarine-hunting aircraft were axed in 2010.

The defence review, due to be published later this month, was widely expected to announce a replacement for the Nimrod, with Boeing’s P-8, which carries torpedoes, depth charges and anti-ship missiles, regarded as the frontrunner.

Sunday Times

[MRTT]

What is wrong with M.O.D, not looking forward to the SDSR.

[Contrail1958]

If our ministers feel that the P-8's are too expensive why have they agreed to F-35
whose price is now really out of control.
Axe F-35,purchase P-8 and provide more employment by installing cat/trap on one of the
carriers. Then with the loose change buy some Hornets.

[TonyO]

P-8 is far too expensive, and all it does at the moment is anti-submarine warfare. Little or no overland surveillance apart from EO/IR and no British weapons or sonobuoys. Not great for the taxpayer.
Personally, I hope this pushes the UK towards the P-1.

[bizfreeq]

The MoD are pulling away from a project that is deemed far too expensive.......should they not be applauded? Nearly everyone on here has heavily criticised them for wasting money on projects such as F35 yet now they have backed off from one because it's beyond the budget they want to work to, the moaning starts again! There are other systems out there, how about we wait and see what they go for and, if it's good enough for the job, give them their dues. There is nothing in the article that says they are not going for anything else so perhaps a bit of patience is warranted.

[chrisfg1]

If our ministers feel that the P-8's are too expensive why have they agreed to F-35
whose price is now really out of control.
Axe F-35,purchase P-8 and provide more employment by installing cat/trap on one of the
carriers. Then with the loose change buy some Hornets.

Looks like the F-35 is about to become even more expensive. The Canadians are pulling out http://www.defensenews.com/story/defens ... /74455726/

[EGDR]

If you go by per-unit cost, an F-35 (even during low rate production) only costs a relatively small amount more than a tranche 3 Typhoon. The P-8, compared to the P-1 as an example, costs $110 million more per airframe (if the figures are correct).

[Bushpilot]

Maybe all we really need are a dozen refitted Hercs and side order of half a dozen P1's a little further down the line.

Rather than refit 'old' Hercs why not put he same kit into an A400M, I do, however, agree with the purchase of P1's.