FighterControl

Any discussion regarding the F-35 purchase stated in the SDSR, in this thread

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34893614

From the report:

"We will maintain our plan to buy 138 F35 Lightning aircraft over the life of the programme."

"We will maintain our plan to buy 138 F35 Lightning aircraft over the life of the programme"

Where are you going to put them? Marham won't be able to hold that many, even when 24 are on board ship. I think you'll have to find another base as well.

My bets are Marham, Lossie and a few with 41 Squadron at Coningsby if the current Tornado's are anything to go by.
Unsure weather BoscomeDown will get one or not though as they haven't got a Typhoon either.

Lossie won't get any under the current plan of 4 Sqns of Typhoons and the 9 P-8 Poseidon. Yeovilton maybe, but will that have the capacity once all Wildcat and Merlin units are there? The F-35 OCU and OEU may actually find themselves being based in the USA a bit like the Luftwaffe F-4 and Tornado.

I suspect we won't get anything like 138 in one go. Remember that F-35 will be being built in the 2030s and probably beyond. Think F-35D/E/F etc.

Thunder wrote:Lossie won't get any under the current plan of 4 Sqns of Typhoons and the 9 P-8 Poseidon. Yeovilton maybe, but will that have the capacity once all Wildcat and Merlin units are there? The F-35 OCU and OEU may actually find themselves being based in the USA a bit like the Luftwaffe F-4 and Tornado.

4 Squadrons of Typhoon at Lossiemouth? Where'd this come from? There were only 5 every initially planned, 3 at Lossiemouth and 2 at Coningsby with the OCU.

Agent K wrote:

Thunder wrote:Lossie won't get any under the current plan of 4 Sqns of Typhoons and the 9 P-8 Poseidon. Yeovilton maybe, but will that have the capacity once all Wildcat and Merlin units are there? The F-35 OCU and OEU may actually find themselves being based in the USA a bit like the Luftwaffe F-4 and Tornado.

4 Squadrons of Typhoon at Lossiemouth? Where'd this come from? There were only 5 every initially planned, 3 at Lossiemouth and 2 at Coningsby with the OCU.

Where have you been today? Currently six Sqns in service with 1,2 and 6 at Lossie and 3, 11 and 29 at Coningsby. Another two Sqns to form which will more than likely result in one at Lossie and another at Coningsby.

Thunder wrote:

Agent K wrote:

Thunder wrote: Where have you been today? Currently six Sqns in service with 1,2 and 6 at Lossie and 3, 11 and 29 at Coningsby. Another two Sqns to form which will more than likely result in one at Lossie and another at Coningsby.

I've been aware of developments all day?!, I'm also well aware of the basing plan pre SDSR2015 hence I was correct in what I said? you stated "under the current plan", BUT there isn't a plan yet to base 4 squadrons at Lossie is there? hence my comment!, the 4th squadron being based there is just speculation, however you suggested there was a definite plan hence my comment on clarity, unless of course there is a plan you're aware of?

I know 809NAS will be the RN's 1st F35 Squadron. Are there going to any more?

Surely the RN ones would be based at a RNAS?

welshandy wrote:I know 809NAS will be the RN's 1st F35 Squadron. Are there going to any more?

Surely the RN ones would be based at a RNAS?

Not these days sadly, they will all be based in as few bases as possible (1? - Marham) and bar the markings will be identical aircraft, makes sense cost wise and logistically to operate them at the same base(s).

welshandy wrote:I know 809NAS will be the RN's 1st F35 Squadron. Are there going to any more?

Surely the RN ones would be based at a RNAS?

Andy

There are already RN personnel at Marham starting the prep work for the F-35 arrival. Marham is going to be a big building site when the renovation work kicks off proper HAS complex and hangars are going to be torn down

Premature??

Shame neither Wittering nor Yeovilton seem likely to see F-35s (or are they?).........

The SDSR announced a new F-35 squadron was to stand up, but in the infographic they released in the report it only says 2 squadrons will be going in 2025?

617 and 809NAS have already been announced. Have I missed something?

Any other Sqns to operate the F-35 will not do so before 2025 is what I make of it. The UK have committed to 138 a/c so I would assume there will be more than three Sqns operating the type eventually.

We don't mind having three F-35 bases in Norfolk... Marham, Coltishall & Sculthorpe! & if they dredge the outer harbour at Great Yarmouth we can have the carriers too!

thorny1a wrote:We don't mind having three F-35 bases in Norfolk... Marham, Coltishall & Sculthorpe! & if they dredge the outer harbour at Great Yarmouth we can have the carriers too!

I don't think they will be using Coltishall any time soon http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-34900965

thorny1a wrote:We don't mind having three F-35 bases in Norfolk... Marham, Coltishall & Sculthorpe! & if they dredge the outer harbour at Great Yarmouth we can have the carriers too!

You left one out, West Raynham!"

Paul

RubyRoo wrote:The SDSR announced a new F-35 squadron was to stand up, but in the infographic they released in the report it only says 2 squadrons will be going in 2025?

617 and 809NAS have already been announced. Have I missed something?

Within the main document it says the RAF will receive an extra F35 squadron, so I would assume that will leave us with 809NAS and then 617 plus another for the RAF. It also reads that this will be part of joint force 2025. Hopefully we have therefore got an extra F35 squadron to look forward to by then