The Ministry of Defence have signed a £230m contract with Boeing Defence UK.
According to a news release, the majority of the 153 BDUK jobs will be based at RAF Lossiemouth – the home of the Poseidon fleet – and will provide aircraft maintenance support and personnel alongside a comprehensive training package for aircraft crews.
The Ministry of Defence say that the remaining 46 jobs will be spread across sites at Bristol, Yeovil and Gosport.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:
“Our new Poseidon fleet continues to grow from strength to strength and is already defending the UK’s maritime interests at home and abroad. This contract with Boeing Defence UK secures our critical submarine-hunting aircraft capabilities whilst also creating a home-grown training enterprise and creating over 150 British jobs.”
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:
“This contract award and the creation of more than 100 jobs at RAF Lossiemouth is another great example of the benefits UK defence investment brings to Scotland.
The Moray station’s fleet of Poseidon submarine hunting aircraft are vital to maintaining the security of the UK and our NATO allies. And the prosperity generated by defence employment in Scotland, alongside the UK Government’s Plan for Jobs, will help us build back better from the pandemic.”
DE&S P-8A Poseidon team leader, Malcolm French said:
“I am extremely proud of the P-8A delivery team and what is yet another example of great delivery by DE&S. Placed to a tight timescale, and encompassing exacting requirements, this contract helps enable the full range of capability that Poseidon brings to be realised, sees our modern aircraft fully supported, and our personnel being trained from state-of-the-art facilities.”
Nine Poseidon have already been ordered from Boeing. Five aircraft named the ‘Pride of Moray’, ‘City of Elgin’, ‘Terence Bulloch’, ‘Spirit of Reykjavik’ and ‘Fulmar’ are all now operating out of Lossiemouth, with four more to come later this year.
Anyone know what the plans are to arm the P8’s?
I heard that the Mk 54 torpedo was going to be integrated, probably to save the time (but mainly the money) of integrating Sting Ray on to P-8. I’m also guessing that Harpoon is being fitted as I know the RAF does have its own stocks, just not sure it will be integrated however…
The RAF have existing stocks of Harpoons? Pretty sure that’s not the case.
It can use the existing block 2 stocks the RN have.
Have the RAF ever had Air Launched Harpoon – I’m not so sure!.
There is an agreement with US to share the P8 weapons stockpile.
The issue with Stingray is that it that we would be going down the path of creating a unique part of the P8 software to launch and control it and then unique hardware to carry it as well as a unique parachute system to deploy it.
Which will all be v expensive and continue to be v expensive into the future. It is also a barrier to upgrade blocks being implemented as if you implement the upgrade the chances are you have to implement a unique UK recode a software modules each and every time…..
One could say the MOD hasn’t heard about Scottish Independents? The expanding commitment across Scotland seems to indicate a deliberate policy of deflection against independence. If SNP gets their way, the MOD will either have to pay to stay or pull out completely? The levels of investment will influence the vote especially in the key investment regions, but it could be an expensive withdrawal.
My thoughts, exactly, on a previous post…
Scotland is not going independent anytime soon. And it’s in Scotland’s interest to work with the mod and interoperability would be key. U have got to think what the goal of independence is. It is mainly to get more control to Edinburgh. The snp are in the lucky position of being able to blame anything that goes wrong on London and when something goes right take credit for it
Scottish people know this and the fact the last vote was near 50% shows that any independence is to be very closely linked to The rest of the uk in defence, health and other key areas.
Just to add what does make Scottish people annoyed is the assumption and the constant negativity from south of the border. Why would Scotland be so incapable of managing things when they have 100’s of years of running governments as part of the uk,
The uk government needs to keep showing why the union is important and give powers to Edinburgh that are not that important to the uk. It should be done for Wales etc as well, give responsibility to the Scottish, welsh parliaments and then they can show if they can do it better or worse
Just now there is an assumption that Scottish government would do it better and from London an assumption that they would do it worse.for me this would allow the key areas where Cooperation is required be focused on
I think much of the negativity coming from south of the border is driven directly of the negativity and vitriol directed at England by the SNP. The SNP take credit for everything and the blame for nothing. If anything negative happens in Scotland they blame the Westminster boogyman.
The Scottish Government already has control of healthcare, education, justice, transport, the environment, policing, rural affairs,housing, income tax (ability to vary +/- 3% in either direction), Scottish local and national elections, some elements of social security and the Crown estate of Scotland.
Through the Barnet formula Scotland gets £2000 per person per year more to spend on public services yet under the Scottish government educational attainment, healthcare, conviction rates etc have all gotten worse.
Through the Union you get a significantly better defence spend that you would on your own.
Just what is it you think will be better with independence?
You’ve just listed domestic matters. What about fp, trade policy, eu…..I’m not a supporter of indyref but just saying
Ah daily mail facts again, this is one reason why a growing number of us Scots want independence. It is a fact that in the UK the NHS in scotland is doing much better, with perhaps the exception of Wales. The continued attacks to withdraw powers from Edinbrugh, as well as challenges to incorporating into Scottish law the rights of children. Yes any vote may be tight, however the continued refussal to “ALLOW” a referendum highlights to many a case for independence. This is sen as arrogance ans misrule, Us scots have elected independence representatives into both parliaments. Why do you think this is? Purely down tomarketing?
The UK is the English voice in all but name. Pulling the Union apart is likely, I just hope we stop and take a rational approach before shattering something irreplaceable.
Many Western democracies operate some form of devolved state governments. Some of them quite hostile. What issues they control can vary greatly and can be very divisive.
Take Australia for example. There is no unified approach to land transport. Rail gauges are different between key states and even matters of heavy goods vehicle standards, regulations and licensing requirements varies between the states. The covid crisis has accentuated differences with individual states frequently closing / controlling movements across state borders while the federal govt controls the international borders.
Canada, Germany, Italy and even Spain with its 17 devolved autonimous communities are examples operating under variations of a theme.
Agree with you and Maurice too, MS. But, in giving the SNP govt loads of goodies, the UK govt also have to think about what the Welsh and NI gov’ts might also want. What’s sauce for the goose…? Got to tread a very delicate path.
But hey – less gov’t in Whitehall and more in the devolved administrations can’t be bad. Provided we retain the Union. That’s the main objective.
I do hope you are right MS, I’m as proud of warships built on the Clyde as I am with Scotlands finest whiskies, as I count myself as British first, and English second………….I know it’s old hat thinking.
I agree with you maurice10. Being “English” is for football only!
Not at all, being English is a proud heritage, and why should my heritage, be limited, in your view, to a football game?
I have come to the conclusion that no change will take place if Scotland became Independent.
If the MoD decided to close the bases they would have a lot to relocate.
The submarine base , The Army base and RAF base. The other factor is that if this happened it would have a major impact on local suppliers and employment in the locality of the bases.
I still hold with the notion that the USA would be very unhappy with the UK’s nuclear deterrent being based in a foreign country? Currently, they don’t want to get involved, and rightly so, but Faslane could create some difficult conversations between the US and UK? Forget the ‘Independent Deterent’ Faslane could move south due to SNP policy and US concerns of a base situated in a country, that is openly hostile to it being in their realm.
I don’t think the USA is really an issue on this – after all, they have based a lot of their nuclear weapons in foreign countries – though that seems to causing concerns re Turkey! The ‘openly hostile’ bit is simple – the UK would move them out in that circmstance before they were told to get out!
Sadly, the UK will do what it’s told on issues pertaining to our nuclear weapons. The theory they are independent is pure fiction. On the issue of US weapons in other countries has no bearing on this issue. The US expects us to be in sole charge of what are their missile systems and that includes where and how the UK base them. Even though we buy the missiles from the US, the protocols are very tight and go back to the Kennedy – Mc Millan agreement. I predict the Faslane issue could be the SNP’s biggest thorn in their sides as time progresses?
I mean I’m pretty sure the US doesn’t really give a shit, sure the missiles might be US but the warheads themselves are sovereign and made in the the UK. Even if the US stopped supplying them we could have our own system up and running very quickly, I’m sure just about every defence contractor outside of the US would jump at that opportunity. And failing that we could just go to Russia and ask them for some in exchange for information. Though things would never get to that point.
I doubt your observation would hold water. The US does take nuclear weapons very seriously.
Hi Maurice.If anyone of reasonable intelligence really thinks about Scottish Independence, it is my opinion that most would conclude that it makes no sense. Scotland can have the best of both-a large degree of internal self government and the advantages that accrue in being part of a large well established political and economic Union-one of the oldest in the world in fact. Defence is one out of dozens of good reasons for what I have said- one can be part of a huge shared infrastructure with all its first world and modern shape giving the full range of capabilities or be like the ROI depending on others for its defence with nothing to field against even a well armed turbo prop[ in the hands of a few fanatics.. The crippling cost of dismantling everything that we Four Nations hold as one and then duplicating of same would be an act of madness. Why should or would the rUK share all of this with an Independent an more to the point, politically neutral Scotland with a hard border?
Lovely day here in Durban and Jacob Zuma is in Jail 😀
I’m sure they have heard of the independence movement, but I’m pretty sure that they are making decisions based on facts and economics…
What would you rather they do? Withdraw all future funding from Scotland and Northern Ireland and spend it in England? Thinking like that would surely doom the UK to breakup…….
Hence my comments about deflection. I can’t see what’s wrong with the current devolved governance? Maybe a change in Holyrood with a broader mix of cross-party consensus might bring about a solution acceptable to all?
Scotland will become independent if we fail to win it back to the Union. Anti-Scottish policies will make it happen faster. We should invest in Scotland to make up for and exceed EU regional funding and win back support for the UK. BTW we built a huge billion £ base and runway at Camp Bastion in Helmand and left it to the Afghans, so this is not unusual.
C’mon lads you need to stop bloviating about referendums it’s tiresome 🥱 folks aren’t interested you need to expand your horizons…….. Football is on people’s minds not this poo poo
You’ve got to hold and give
But do it at the right time
You can be slow or fast
But you must get to the line
They’ll always hit you and hurt you
Defend and attack
There’s only one way to beat them
Get ’round the back
Catch me if you can
‘Cause I’m the Scotland man
And what you’re looking at
Is the master plan
We ain’t no hooligans
This ain’t a football song
Three bagpipes on my chest
I know we can’t go wrong
We’re playing for Scotland (Scotland)
We’re playing the song
We’re singing for Scotland (Scotland)
Arrivederci, it’s one one one😉
👍🏻🏴🇬🇧
That made me laugh Artist, I actually wandered how long this thread would take before it denigrated into the usual we hate the sasanachs SNP rant…..
Hopefully people have learned from the eu and Scottish referendums mean different things to different people. Giving people a yes or no question for something that has 1000’s of issues is not a great way of solving things.
The snp really seem to seem as some kind of devil cartel by some.
As someone who lives in Scotland I feel they have had a positive impact on Scotland and on most Scottish peoples lives. I voted for them as the rest were useless. I don’t currently support independence tho, this is a distinction that a lot don’t seem to realise
It’s interesting to see just how far Labour has fallen nationally Mr Monkey Spanker…
It’s once unassailable fortress of Scotland and Northern England have largely collapsed, they have retreated into the north west and their new Woke home in the South East.
They have even reached the point that holding on a ultra safe seat by the skin of their teeth is hailed as a great victory… A very sad nose dive for our second national party….
The other parties in Scotland have really let the snp be the only party. I don’t have the answers as to why they have fallen so far and what to do to fix it. Even the tories saw the chance to hoover up the middle ground and apart from being a little bit mean to the struggling in society they haven’t been that bad.
There I think lies the problem that people just don’t see some career politician as going to make a massive difference.
All the snp have to do is moan about things the Uk government does wrong and take credit when things go well. Best of both worlds
The uk is great place to live when u look round the world.
Ah yes see that right there, deflect argument/ discussion to hate of English by Scots. Sorry but this does unionist argument more damage than good, it only highlights desperation, most Scots do not hate English. I have some very good English friends, my desire for independence is not driven by hate of people I know and love. Better look for another soundbite, that one is pretty false and worn.
Morning William, no deflection here, you’re looking too hard. Simply stating that every thread that mentions Scotland hits the independence button within a few responses….
Why, because it’s relevant to question investment in infrastructure that one day might need to be pulled and reinvented south of the border.
If your wish is to live in a very highly taxed, low public spending country, stuck in severe austerity for decades to come, you go for it and good luck to you.
Hi John I have heard all htese scaremongering stories, continually pushed at the Scottish people. If all was as you seem to allude why would a public spirited benefactor as England so obviously is! Want to retain Scotland tthat is such a burden on English Tax payers. I tthink posts such as this end up with independence minded supporters trying to combat some fallicies putt about by ill informed (in general) individuals that actually do not live and work in Scotland. I can appreciate the rights of English people to assert there wishes via ballot box as they have done with Brexit vote but as far as a lot of people in Scotland are concerned this highlights significant differences in our cultures to such an extent that we need to explore the independence question. I am at a loss that this causes so much stushie south of the border as it should be a matter for the Scottish people to decide. We will see whether Scotland can manage her own affairs as a sovereign independent nation that is not like some junkie dependent on our bigger neighbour England to keep us safe. I look forwards in hope to that day. I also hope that as neighbours we will be good friends and strong allies.
We’ve going down a well beaten path here William…
The stark facts are that the projected Scottish GDP is well below where it needs to be to maintain public spending at its current levels.
So, options:
Severe austerity and tax rises across the board for many years to come as Scotland lives within its budget.
Joining the EU ….. Becoming a small nation swallowed whole by a greedy Federal Empire … What independence???
EU membership would also mean cutting yourself off from Union in practical terms, as the rest of us go in a different direction.
I would love to hear how you think it can be made to work William?
Moving on the the referendum itself….
You had one, a referendum that had precise wording agreed by all sides, overseen by the electrical commission, with all parties agreeing to abide by the result…
That result was totally democratic, beyond reproach and was firmly remain.
A forthcoming National referendum on membership of the EU was already on the cards and an electoral promise of the Tories, when the Scottish referendum was held.
A referendum of this sort is a once in a generation thing, so 25 years at least..
If you win another leave vote, will the remainers get to vote in a ‘Rejoin the Union’ referendum every 7 years, until they get the results they want too??
It only seems fair William.
Let’s call it the hokey cokey referendum, in, out, in, out shake it all about 🤣
It’s the assumption that Scotland would somehow be incapable of managing without being in the uk that annoys people. If u say to a Scottish person you can’t do that because ur not good enough, guess what. They will go to great lengths to prove you wrong, even if it does hurt them a little. It’s human nature
I’m happy being in the uk as a Scottish person
It’s much the same everywhere in the Great Britain MS ….
Us Brits don’t care for being talked down too, Labour found that out to its cost as it support crumbled away nationally, first in Scotland (big warning sign they ignored) and finally a collapse of their vote in England too, mainly because of their London centric, anti BREXIT stance.
They are now a rather sad hollowed out shell of a party, that can’t decide what they stand for….
What fills there place will be interesting
Indeed it will, there’s a power vacuum waiting for a new force, unfortunately no one has ever made a real impression to break our two party race.
As we all know, the party that takes and holds the centre ground, tends to get into power and stay for a good long while…
Labour don’t stand a chance for the foreseeable future, the hard Left are still there and will keep the party as eternal runners up, until they separate and go in different directions.
…And if anyone seriously wants the match replayed, let them start with the ‘hand of God’ game!
Aye wee Diego RIP could have been a keeper but scare blu what a player. 👏🏻
this is a win win More jobs up here in paradise and the Silverware hopefully in London everyone’s a winner 😉
🏴🇬🇧
Best of three games anyone?…
Or best of five if three doesn’t give the ‘right’ result 🙂
Lol… On a wee bit of a tangent… with all these high value assets at Lossiemouth, plus people and infrastructure, is this base well defended by Sabre or other shorad systems? It’s a lot of eggs in one basket!
And from upside down here in Sydney it was
great to see so many happy faces after the ⚽ win!
Oh, good, another chance to debate Scottish Independence….🙃
Nice photo and great relief to see the Nimrod ‘capability gap’ affair receding into the past.
I’m sure this article is about P8 maintenance and training with a side order of job creation……………am I missing something?
Hay, ‘Scotland’ is in the title, so the fun always starts one or two posts in…..
It’s the broader picture when it centres on Scotland. It’s fair to ask what happens to UK bases in Scotland, which are getting considerable investment. Just how sound is this policy in the face of possible independence?
Scotland will be independent. Sooner or later the SNP will win a referendum. It’s like the old IRA quote you have to be lucky all the time we only need to be lucky once. When that happens they’ll find out whatever the truth of the Barnett formula is and if they do join the EU they’ll be a net contributor to that too. On the plus side they won’t have to share a country with the English. It’s their bed.
Just need to order another 25 aircraft to have a credible ASW capability.
Hi JJ, I would be happy with at least 3 more but is there the space at Lossiemouth?
Use St Mawgan again, reform 42Sqn
Good point
I am not sure you could ever justify 25 extra P-8’s.
They can sanitise a very large area when working with other assets.
Even allowing for the rule of 3, doubling the number would be as far as I would go and realistically another 3 – 5 would be superb. Otherwise all you create is a load of hangar queens as resources get pulled in other directions……
It is not like we are trying to do the whole job ourselves like in the 70’s and 80’s – other countries like Norway have decent P-8 fleets as well so the NATO wide coverage is actually pretty good. And back in the day the capabilities/area cover of the Nimrod’s were more limited than the P-8: it is a state of the art platform.
Waste of resources
I have no knowledge in this field, hence the question. Is it always the best way forward, to give large contracts to large businesses, rather than have trained RAF maintenance crews working on aircraft?
A long term friend of my son’s works on Helicopters, involved in all aspects of maintenance, but he is not in the armed forces, and to the best of my knowledge, does not work for the MOD.