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

[baz1]

personally I think the MOD should have a look on this site' you guys seem to see a much wider picture and from what I read a lot of what you all say makes a lot of sense in my book!

[scimitar]

So let's look at this rationally, the MOD is pulling out of something it hadn't actually confirmed it had signed up to in the first place.

Alternatively it's HMG doing a Jim Bowen with a here's what you could've won using the Tax Credit defeat as it's excuse.

It's all just spin however and I fully expect to see RAF P8's at Kinloss.

Cammy

[lowlevelRAF]

To be honest, P1 or P8, I think we need something back to do the job of Nimrod. With the less money per airframe for P1 (I am no expert, so this most likely be wrong), do with have the MRA4 Tech to go in it? That is if the Japanese will let us replace all the kit in place on it. I would like to see a MPA, bonus with ASW capability for the RAF, not just refurbishing the Hercules fleet.

[Agent K]

To be honest, P1 or P8, I think we need something back to do the job of Nimrod. With the less money per airframe for P1 (I am no expert, so this most likely be wrong), do with have the MRA4 Tech to go in it? That is if the Japanese will let us replace all the kit in place on it. I would like to see a MPA, bonus with ASW capability for the RAF, not just refurbishing the Hercules fleet.

Problem is as soon as the design and configuration is changed with new equipment installed and configured the cost escalates considerably with the need to do the design work and certify the airplane, hence any potential saving evaporates.

[lowlevelRAF]

To be honest, P1 or P8, I think we need something back to do the job of Nimrod. With the less money per airframe for P1 (I am no expert, so this most likely be wrong), do with have the MRA4 Tech to go in it? That is if the Japanese will let us replace all the kit in place on it. I would like to see a MPA, bonus with ASW capability for the RAF, not just refurbishing the Hercules fleet.

Problem is as soon as the design and configuration is changed with new equipment installed and configured the cost escalates considerably with the need to do the design work and certify the airplane, hence any potential saving evaporates.

True, very true

[Mike]

Just look at the new Chinooks that the RAF has bought at enormous expense, it's 8 months from delivery to entering service..................EIGHT months !

[page_verify]

Which airframe gets chosen is irrelevant to a big cost project - IF there's a problem right now, it'll be spending any amount of money rather than the difference between a P-8 and P-1.

[lardyboy999]

Interesting link I've just found. Apologies if already posted.

https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com ... tion-axed/

[onemac]

Well, you have an article in The Times stating plans for purchasing P-8's are to be dropped and The Press & Journal (a local paper covering Kinloss & Lossie) spouting forth the 'widely accepted' point of view that the SDSR will announce the purchase of P-8's. The P&J then go on to say that Waddington is strongly placed to accommodate them with Kinloss being considered and Leuchars is also expected to be a leading contender. My money is on the P&J although I do have an inkling that the 'Sea Herc' might still be in with a chance?

Al

[Thunder]

From the articles I've read, I'm tending towards the Sea Herc too.

[i]On face value, this looks like an attractive option, the C130J Hercules is in service with the UK, an established support and training infrastructure in place and the costs would be reasonably low.[/i]

http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2014/02/f ... m-options/

Other thoughts here (although I'm sure you've all heard the arguments)

http://ukarmedforcescommentary.blogspot ... rafts.html

And didn't someone else say on here that the P8's had problems using Lossiemouth's structure?

It's all about the money, money money.

That's what they said about Nimrod.

[Contrail1958]

Aviation Week Network mentions a J Dodd manager at Boeing Military Aircraft
saying the UK are likely to aquire 6 P-8's with an option of 6 more to follow.
This purchase of coarse has to be agreed by Congress .

[Andy_99]

From the articles I've read, I'm tending towards the Sea Herc too.

[i]On face value, this looks like an attractive option, the C130J Hercules is in service with the UK, an established support and training infrastructure in place and the costs would be reasonably low.[/i]

http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2014/02/f ... m-options/

Other thoughts here (although I'm sure you've all heard the arguments)

http://ukarmedforcescommentary.blogspot ... rafts.html

And didn't someone else say on here that the P8's had problems using Lossiemouth's structure?

It's all about the money, money money.

That's what they said about Nimrod.

Problem is that the way the MOD work by the time they scope & then develop a 'Sea Herk' it would a) Be more expensive than a P1/P8 off the Shelf & b) The earmarked airframes will be at the end of their fatigue life & have to be scrapped anyway.

Why can't we just buy something off the shelf that is already in use

[iainpeden]

Why not do what the Germans did - 2nd hand P-3s; there are loads at DM and I bet quite a few are low-houred.

[ColintheCaterpillar]

Why not do what the Germans did - 2nd hand P-3s; there are loads at DM and I bet quite a few are low-houred.

Yay, if it isn't enough to equine the RAF with Medieval types such as the RJ, let's get some thoroughly Roman airframes to go with them. Props on a serious MPA are so 20th century.

Buy new. Buy capable. Buy now.

[EGDR]

Their operating environment when in the UK could be anywhere within the UK's area of interest, be it a SAR operation in the south west approaches (which Nimrods often provided top cover for) or 'guarding' subs as they enter or depart Faslane, so in essence being based in a central location is the closest place to their operating environment.

[Rockstar]

I am not sure that it should come as any great surprise that, although perceived to be the most capable MPA to procure as a finished system, the P-8 was also going to be the most expensive. With the UK having the fifth largest exclusive economic zone in the world (surrounding and extending out to 200 nautical miles from the coast of not only the United Kingdom, but the Crown Dependencies, and the British Overseas Territories), surely the procurement of some form of MPA platform is a necessity as part of the forthcoming SDSR. As it would seem there are significant noises being made about the unit cost of P-8s then it may be we have to look at a more cost effective solution to get the best bang for our buck. As history has often shown it usually comes down to penny pinching and seemingly being able to 'make do'. Therefore, potential front runners are likely to come in the form of the Airbus Military C295 or the Bombadier Dash 8 (recently delivered to the UAE Air Force as a maritime patrol aircraft). Both have apparently been considered as a more cost efficient off the shelf platform, with Airbus Military touting the C295 as an excellent anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare platform with up to 11 hours of endurance.

The SAAB 2000 Swordfish MPA could be another option to fit the capability gap and has been showcased at several air and trade shows in recent years. As a long shot how about the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton. Based on the Global Hawk this platform would already have NATO interoperability although it is doubtful that its long endurance enabling it to cover a wide area would offset the fact it is limited to surveillance and has no rescue capability of its own. Or how about this for a real curve ball. The Shaanxi Y-8GX-6 long range anti-submarine warfare aircraft which has recently entered service with the China People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF). With recent state and business visits by various delegations lifting China-UK relations, can it really be ruled out as a potential contender?!!

Or of course the RAFs long range SAR capability, and its patrol of the Falklands inner and Outer Conservation zones remains with the trusty C-130 – which could sway the decision makers on whether to retire the whole of the C130J fleet by 2022 – another key decision we await to come out of SDSR 2015.

[PR9]

Think BAE made a proposal based on the BAe 146 a while ago, can anyone confirm. Could be a mini-P1.

[TonyO]

Aviation Week Network mentions a J Dodd manager at Boeing Military Aircraft
saying the UK are likely to aquire 6 P-8's with an option of 6 more to follow.
This purchase of coarse has to be agreed by Congress .

We did that story in June...

[astor29]

I have been told the poss location for the P8s to be based at Waddington and if so they will dig up the golf course and have a fresh dispersal to themselves, as we all know the other location will be in Scotland.

[onemac]

At least it looks like we are getting MPA's Guardian Article - click here to view

Al