Babcock has set out an expanding international maritime portfolio anchored by its Arrowhead 140 frigate design and submarine support work, the company stated in its full-year results for the twelve months to 31 March 2026.
The centrepiece of that effort is a Maritime Partnership Programme framework agreement signed in November with the Indonesian Government, worth up to £4 billion. Babcock said Indonesia has since signed a Letter of Intent for two further Arrowhead 140 frigate licences, expected in the coming months, while negotiations continue on the contract structures for the broader programme covering maritime defence, security and modernisation. The company described the agreement as reinforcing its position as a trusted government delivery partner on what it characterised as strategically important international programmes.
The Arrowhead 140 design, which forms the basis of the Royal Navy’s Type 31 Inspiration Class frigates being built at Rosyth, is also under consideration in Denmark, where Babcock said it is awaiting an announcement from the Danish Government on its preferred naval platform. In Sweden, the company confirmed it was not selected as preferred bidder for the Luleå Class surface combatant programme following a decision in late May 2026, where it had offered the smaller Arrowhead 120 design. In Poland, Babcock signed a strategic cooperation agreement with PGZ SA covering naval design, construction, maintenance, military aircraft sustainment and strategic asset management for the Polish armed forces.
The submarine side of the business saw equally significant international movement. Babcock’s partnership with US shipbuilder HII expanded during the year to include authorisation to support the Virginia Class nuclear submarine build programme, with the company now cleared to manufacture complex submarine assemblies at its advanced manufacturing facility in Rosyth. Babcock said the initial engineering contract is under way and “could expand materially over time.” The two companies’ joint venture, H&B Defence, also secured its first contract under the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification pilot programme, which Babcock described as Australia’s gateway into the US submarine supply chain. The first Australian supplier received a Request for Quotation for the Virginia Class programme through that route in August 2025.
In Canada, Babcock signed a teaming agreement with Hanwha Ocean focused on in-service support for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, the procurement under which Canada intends to acquire its next-generation conventionally-powered submarines. Hanwha is one of two shortlisted suppliers. The company is also continuing work on the Extended Docking Work Period for HMCS Victoria under the Victoria In-Service Support Contract, and supports the Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Scott where HMCS Windsor’s docking period is taking place.
South Africa marked a new entry point as Babcock secured what it described as its first defence contract in the country, covering the survey and refit of two submarines at Simonstown Dockyard alongside spares and product supply contracts. The company called this a major strategic milestone and its entry into the South African defence sector.
Domestic naval support work also saw movement at the year’s end as Babcock agreed a six-month bridging arrangement with the UK Ministry of Defence under the £3.5 billion Future Maritime Support Programme to maintain continuity of nuclear submarine fleet support and naval base management services. The MOD has signed a Letter of Intent to finalise the multi-year replacement contract, known as Gateway, by October 2026. Babcock also secured a two-year extension covering critical Royal Navy surface ship maintenance and infrastructure support. The Mission Systems business secured its third renewal contract supporting in-service Royal Navy submarine effector systems, worth £110 million over nine years.
Looking further ahead, Babcock pointed to what it sees as significant long-term opportunities tied to the AUKUS partnership, including supply chain, training, infrastructure and support related to Australia’s developing nuclear submarine capability under Pillar I. The AUKUS partner nations signed the first Pillar II project in May, covering enabling systems for Uncrewed Undersea Vehicles. Babcock continues to deploy specialists to Australia to support Astute Class submarine maintenance ahead of Submarine Rotational Force-West activities from 2027.
Chief executive David Lockwood, who is due to retire later this year, set the results against a shifting global environment. “Against an increasingly uncertain geopolitical backdrop, Babcock has delivered continued strategic and operational progress,” he said, as quoted in the press release, adding that the group had secured “important contract wins that further strengthen our position in defence and nuclear markets, where long-term demand is increasingly structural.”
On the civil side of Marine, Babcock’s Liquid Gas Equipment business delivered 42 projects covering cargo handling and fuel gas supply systems for LPG, LNG, CO2 and ethane carriers during the year, including the cargo handling system for what the company described as a world-first CO2 carrier. The business booked its 150th ecoSMRT order for LNG reliquefaction technology and secured its first contracts for ammonia fuel gas supply systems using its ecoFGSS-FLEX technology.
At group level, Babcock reported revenue of £5.18 billion, up 8 percent organically, with Marine sector revenue rising 2 percent at constant currency to £1.59 billion. The company’s contract backlog stood at £9.8 billion at year-end, down from £10.4 billion a year earlier, reflecting trading on large multi-year orders won in the prior year. Babcock also announced a further £200 million share buyback to be completed during the current financial year, following completion of an earlier £200 million programme in April.
Starmer says he has “restored trust on Defence”!!!
Almost spat my tea on there.
One the one side, your part, just a short while ago, were trying to get a communist into Downing Street, who’d have happily disarmed the UK even more. You were an “acceptable” figurehead who didn’t want unilateral nuclear disarmanent so you were chosen. So there’s that. A positive start.
On the other hand, you never published the DIP, you remained unable to expand Defence to the levels needed, and industry is still in a state of limbo, the cuts have continued, the spin has continued, and the Tory policy of shoving other non military spending into the “Defence” budget has continued, trying to fool the public that the military is being properly resourced.
Trust on Defence, my foot….
And at the end, the usual spectacle of hugging the Wife to get everyone feeling sorry as you’re clapped out of Downing Street and another professional politician is parachuted in to take your place.
What a charade.
No wonder the public are rebelling, and an oh so convenient excuse to delay the DIP even longer, yes?
Don’t love professional politicians, far from it, Cameron never had a true job in his life, but the record with non professional politicians is so far, a disaster around the World and Farage will be another to add if he ever makes it there. It’s why the public are in such confusion themselves and have as few unified ideas about what they want as the actual people they vote in. Everyone talks of fundamental change but there is no agreement on those fundamental changes or even their direction we need to go beyond nebulous desires to be better off and a growing economy, other than arguably immigration. Even that has little true agreement about how to solve matters in polls.
The immigration issue is very very simple. There has never been a mandate to demographically change Britain in the space of 30 years. Neither Blair/Brown, or the Tories for 14 years ever promised the greatest period of immigration in our history. Mass immigration has no legitimacy whatsoever. None.
👍 a shame Healey and Carns didn’t wait another week or so. With useless Reeves hopefully also going they may have stood a better chance to secure the defence funding we need.
Chicken and egg. Healey and Carns not resigning might have left Starmer with enough support to stumble on. Will be good to see the back of Reeves. However, the parliamentary Labour Party remains the same, and will be emboldened by having a left winger in charge, so I don’t think it’s necessarily all good news for defence.
I suspect we’ll get some short term cash until Burnham crashes the economy then we’ll face more cuts. The moment Russia and Ukraine sign a peace treaty of any sort I reckon we’ll see the left of the PLP call for immediate defence cuts and restoration of the foreign aid budget.
Burnham is not really a left winger, he’s always been a Blairite.. but for some reason he seems to be able to get more support from the left wing than other centrist or centre left candidates..
He just sounds like he doesn’t come from Posh.
Essentially it’s all in the packaging and not looking or sounding like a rich entitled central Londoner.
Well he is from the North, didn’t go to Eton nor Oxford he went to Cambridge ! TBH he could really shake things up and pick a Cabinet that’s in line with regions and less on the inner M25 Labour Clique.
It isn’t Reeves per se. It’s a combination of her fiscal rules and the BoE’s inflation mandate. Burnham wants to keep these, and that means he will be able to change very little, whomever he picks as Chancellor.
Hi pal, on the DIP I think we’re basically in a holding pattern now until Burnham is in and things settle.
Then it’s going to be the usual reshuffle. We don’t know who ends up as DS or Chancellor yet, and those two will pretty much set the direction on funding and priorities.
Any new team is going to want to put their own stamp on how the DIP is delivered, whether that’s a tweak of priorities or a short ‘refresh’ before they sign anything off.
Just when it looks like we’re getting close to the DIP being released, something else comes along and pushes it back again.
And people seriously might think that that’s not by design?
Of course, kick the can, someone else’s problem.
And round and round the wheel turns.
Oh yes, I was great on Defence, I delayed just as the Conservatives did till after a GE or once another comes in to decide.
A farce.
Bye 👋 the forces won’t miss you.
Is Burnham certain?
In politics, nothing is certain. But I’d say that unless a video comes out of him kicking puppies, he’s pretty much safe.
Jim Hacker has an outside chance.😂
I seriously doubt he reads this website, so don’t see the point of your comment 🤷🏻♂️
Agreed.
And I seriously doubt I’ll ever be in a face to face position, on film, to discredit him, or any other Defence Secretary or CDS who contradict, lie, delay, or are economical with the truth.
So I let off steam the way I see fit, writing as if I’m addressing the person. Not the first time or the last . 👍 Just one of my “isms” so do please ignore.
Might I suggest taking up a martial art?
I find hitting people legally to be a great way to let-off steam 🤷🏻♂️
Ha! I can quite believe it. I’m not that way inclined, unless someone hurts my family or my pets.
Talking seriously, I’d read that the Japanese have rooms where employees can go and take it out on a punchbag?
The difference between here and there is that here I can discuss with other posters who might also agree, and talk Defence at the same time. Those that do not agree, like yourself, and many others, well, hello.
I’ll take the public forum, thanks.
Archery or shooting are very productive as well.
They’re actually on my list of new sports to try, aiming for this summer 🤞🏻 Just difficult squeezing them in around my existing ones.
@Spock
Illegally can be as well, so I’m told.😁
Should you have joined RUSI, you would have had and will still have the chance to speak truth to power – did you join? If not, stop whinging.
Exactly.
I’ve been saying this on and off for the past year or so.
It’s just a forum really, a bit like Farcebook, the comments section Is just a place for people to let of steam and nothing more than that.
Long may It continue.
Odd stance to take. You could apply the same to most criticism of the government.
No I find most of that pretty pointless too.
I come to the comments section to see others flesh-out the articles with more information: for example, on the article about Canada buying JORN there’s a highly informative thread between Daniele and TorpedoJ.
Or to ask questions myself.
That there’s so much whinging and whining, or delusions of rebuilding the Empire and the Grand Fleet, or bonkers conspiracy theories or blatant racism, is a sad reflection on the state of Britain today.
Thanks for that, Spock, I’ll try and stick to the serious informative stuff more, as said, ignore any rants.
Never had any problem given credit and praise when it due…
nor the opposite when called for 😉
👍
You’re in a forum about a topic that is distinctly political, though.
There’s a difference between topics being irrelevant to the article and subject of the site more broadly, and being uninteresting to you.
Politics usually involves advancing ideas on how to improve the status quo, rather than constant whinging about where we are and how we got here.
You might enjoy group-whinging, but some of us would prefer hearing solutions rather than the repetition of the problems ad nauseum.
DM, one good piece of news today: the British Army orders 270 strike vehicles!! The make of the vehicle has not been disclosed for some strange reason. Whomever becomes the new PM I believe he or she will endeavour to improve the DIP if only to be rid of Starmer’s stigma on this issue. It’s all politics.
Blimey, I’d not caught up with that, thanks. I’ll have a look.
Agree, hopefully the issue has become so politicised Burnham does better, but I’m not holding my breath.
Ok. There I was thinking we’d ordered “270 Strike vehicles” as if it was a multi million order for a Swingfire replacement, like the Brimstone Overwatch variants showcased.
No, these seem to be Light Recc Strike 4x4s, for 11 Bde according to the article I found.
I understand we already operate several types across the DSF, ASOB, and the RM, including DAGOR, Polaris MRZR D4s, CAVS, Fox LRVPs, and possibly Supacat HT400s.
Contract value 19 million, chicken feed. I’ve speculated here before what 11 Bde use, makes sense they’d aquire this sort of vehicle if this is for them.
Sorry, DM, I should have clarified the vehicle type. However, it’s an order, and we should be grateful for that.
Absolutely mate, thank you for alerting me. Looking into it already, I’d asked the liked of Dern before what 11 Brigade might be using, hopefully an upgrade.
Looks like the company mentioned in the article specialises in bolt on additions to vehicles, mounts etc so what are the vehicles they are mounting on as the article is very coy on that aspect.?
The company specialise, I think, in comms and covert intell systems.
I’d read the vehicles are versions of Toyota Hilux 4x4s and they’ll have hidden comms fitted.
Fits with semi covert move of 11 Bde teams with Drones to Eastern Europe.
Hi M8, Re the DIP announcement, it’s an odd one and it’s seriously got me scratching my head. Starmer hasn’t resigned as PM but as leader of the Labour Party. He knows he is going and probably so does Rachel from accounts and so far it all seems to be business as usual and there is nothing to stop them delivering DIP as per the stated deadline before the NATO conference 7/8 July.
Starmer chose not to resign with immediate effect nor very quickly, so he has deliberately set out the timeline for that and it’s more than slightly odd. It’s his choice to dictate that timeline as no one has forced the issue by triggering a leadership challenge and his choice is very interesting.
July 6th Defence Questions scheduled (that’s been scheduled for months).
July 7th & 8th NATO Summit in Ankara.
July 9th Nominations for New Labour Leader open (looks like it will be a one horse race).
July 15th Nominations close.
Juky 16th Vote.
July 17 / 18 New Labour Leader PM.
Last week he promised Rutte DIP would be published before the NATO conference and every NATO member has got to present its plan on how it intends to get to the 3.5% Target by 2035 at that meeting.
So I may be wrong but it wouldn’t surprise me if he delivers it and leaves Burnham to figure out how to pay for it.
Of course, mate! Bloody blasted politics! Delay the actionable parts, someone else’s problem, as I said above.
Then, if it is not followed through it is Burnham’s fault, just another political landmine and another reason why I loathe lot of them.
Playing party politics with my countries armed forces.
The Tories promised the earth, after the GE knowing they’d not get re elected, it’s been done before.
On another, but related subject, it is interesting how much has been ordered despite no DIP.
Orders continue, albeit mostly legacy ones from the Tories, despite some posters saying there are none.
We actually have a lot of kit coming in.
Hi M8. I think I may have been a little too nuanced, Starmer has chosen to not start the election process till after he has committed to deliver DIP, till then he is the PM and looking at that schedule he could just deliver it and leave Burnham to either fund it or accept some very serious consequences if try’s wiggling out of that commitment.
It’s Cannons to Left and Canons to the Right.
Trump will crucify any NATO country that doesn’t turn up with plausible incremental plan on 7th /8th July and sorry but “it’s all down to the next guy” will just not wash. He’s been pretty blunt about, he gave us all 1 year to produce or else !
As for the orders of kit, yep they are but progress on some of the larger ones is very slow or hitting problems ! Whats up with the CR3 Turret ?
And let’s not forget the other side of the NATO audience and it’s probably even more important to Burnham, if he back tracked on the commitment how will European NATO countries react ?
So, a cunning plan.
Rachel from accounts has confirmed that the DIP and the funding plan will be published before the NATO conference. All other major decisions are on hold till Burnham takes over.
🤞🏻 its better than we all think it will be. I’m very slightly optimistic that they want to go out on a high and do the right thing !
Based on how the last Labour PM and Chancellor departed it could be a new note left on a desk.
Dear Andy,
We have committed you to an incremental Defence spending plan that fully meets our NATO obligations. Now you have to either fully fund it by cutting other spending or face massive tariffs from the US, watch as they shut most of their bases and forget a better relationship with Europe as they will be completely ignoring you.
Good Luck Keir and Rachel
PS We are both resigning as MPs so you can see just how popular you really are outside Manchester !
We’ll take it, I think mate? If that is what transpires.
How’s things at the ROC?
ROC ? No idea wasn’t it bought out by BAe and shut ! Besides which it was over in Nottingham so a no go area for Rams fans.
At Derby, mate, your Mrs!
She has had 2 very busy days, it’s a massive job to get this all coordinated and it’s not only going well but it’s ahead of schedule, she has been amazed that the more cantankerous contractors are really pulling out the stops to cooperate and get it all done.
TBH I worked in a very different engineering and management environment but pulling this all together from scratch is a real credit to Network Rail and all their contractors.
She spent yesterday day getting the machines availability and sufficient crews to do 24 hour 3 x 8 shifts (plus an 8 hour rest period) that’s 4 crews per machine.
An unexpected plus point is that a lot of scheduled work has been cancelled due to the heat so availability has been excellent.
Today she got a call telling her they wanted to bring it all forwards by 16 hours as they are clearing the area far faster than they thought they would.😩
So binned all the plans and redid it all from scratch, so 🤞🏻 she can now get on with the day job.
FYI All the engines and carriages are being shrink wrapped before being moved up to Alstom at Derby where RAIB & BTP will be doing forensics.
Funny thing is lot of the senior Leadership Team are on Holiday and she thinks that’s helped !
@ABC.
Good post, thanks.
Yes, the RAIB will do their jobs, thoroughly professional bunch.
we must start to get some issues squared off on here the fleet is less than a third the size of the one that was sent to the falklands in 1982. IT WAS THEN THAT THE ROT SET IN EVERY REVIEW OF THE FORCES SINCE THEN HAS RESULTED IN CUTS,CUTS AND MORE CUTS the navy has taken the brunt of it but the blame rests on the governments of both main partys.whole classes of ships retired/sold before their due dates(type 22) ark royal retired 5 years before its due date.
Given he planned cuts before the war, it’s hard to see how you pick that date as to when the “rot” set in. Arguably it’s been the pathway since Post WW2.
Public service is Public service. And few on here have had anything like the responsibility. I didn’t support him, and didn’t vote for him. But I don’t think he was a bad man. We all have our opinions about what should or shouldn’t get done. But the politics, the money, the wider economy, 18 other departments fighting for more money, the national debt pilling up. None of it is easy. I’ll wish the next guy luck, he’s going to need it.
Politics is not really about luck – although it definitely helps.
It is about skill. Nothing more and nothing less.
We need the right person for this situation.
It looks like it’s going to be Mr Burnham. He’s got 3 years to win the public over. I’ve never voted Labour. But I wish them/him well.
There will be a general election in three years assuming Mr Burnham doesn’t call one sooner which he will if he thinks he might win it. I hope this is his moment in life and he can run this country well. We will see.
i fear the same shit different face and nothing changes
Hi mate.
Course he wasn’t a bad man, neither was Jeremy Corbyn, he loves animals, as do I, and would have helped with the cruelty they face.
And no way in Gods earth was I ever voting for him either.
Starmer is the Prime Minister, he is going to get judged by his actions or inaction and has to set priorities. Defence wasn’t high enough.
He then spins and peddles false truths regards Defence at the same time, like they all do, so I’ve no issue with calling that out here.
“Biggest Defence increases in a generation” and all that, so the public think, military.
Meanwhile, inserted into the “rise of Defence spending” Afghan rehoming, Chagos payments ( if he and Hermer had had their way ) the SIA, Ukraine ops, and previous items already eating at the militaries table, certain aspects of the DNE placed in core since 2010 and pensions.
He might be a hero to one person if they prioritise mass benefits, and “the Devil” ( figure of speech ) to another who prioritises the defence of the realm and the continuation of my culture without it being eroded by mass immigration from those who do not integrate.
Those two are the biggies for me, so that is how I see him. And I see Labour and the Conservatives that way as well.
Public Service, yes. Or was he in the service of his and his parties ideology? Strangely there was no issue early on finding the money for the things that really mattered.
“We may be at war with Russia by 2030.”
So I’ll refuse to be a leader and find the money, a paltry 5 billion extra, to prevent two good ministers walking, but I can find 4.5 billion for cycle lanes. The 18 billion is seen as some sort of benchmark. It was actually the bare minimum needed, not an acceptable level when the rest of Europe is matching actions with words, making additions to their armed forces.
Prioritise. If Cycle lanes, immigration, benefits, and pandering to your left wingers on the back benches along with the NHS are all your priorities, fair enough. All the vote winners. But don’t then grandstand like he has done regards the military, the two do not mix.
Yes, he’s probably a lovely man, Arsenal supporter isn’t he?
And what will Nigel Farage do for the Armed Force’s? The cycle lane money was from a current budget over 5 years. It wasn’t new money plucked out of thin air. Illegal immigration is down 41% from this time last year. Is it enough. No. Is it coming slowly down. Yes. As I’ve said before, 3 years ago we would been pretty happy to be at 2.6% on defence. And the Russia will attack in 5 years time line. I’m taking that with a very large pinch of salt. If Russia was serious about that, why not attack now before NATO has another 5 years to build up capability. And I’m not seeing any detail from Reform about how they would solve illegal immigration. Deport all illegals they say. But how? Where will they deport them to? At what cost? What new deal with France will they have to negotiate. How will they stop people leaving Iran and Afghanistan in the first place. Its all easy to say, delivering is another matter. And I’ve seen nothing that tells me Reform will deliver.
Exactly. And I have seen nothing that any of the mainstream parties will deliver on any of those issues either.
Infact, they caused them. So why should I keep voting for them?
The only difference is that Reform have not been in office yet.
Or, we see that it is likely that these issues will just continue, as you say, what one says and what ones does is two different things. Reform might be just as bad, or they might not, I don’t listen to the mud slingers with an agenda.
Lets change tac, mate, who should I vote for?
Tory. Talk the talk, not real Tories, caused 14 years of defence cuts and talk tough on immigration while doing the opposite.
Labour. Never voted for in my life, dominated by the unions and the Labour membership who amongst other things, wanted to leave NATO a few years ago and have members in the Parliamentary Labour Party who I think are against my nation and certainly EVERYTHING that I believe.
Lib Dem. Want straight back into the EU, I voted out.
SNP. Want to dismantle my nation, enough said.
Green. Mass Defence cuts, mass immigration, even further left than the left of Labour.
Tell me…WHO do I vote for?
Or would you prefer that I spoil my ballot, not vote at all, or continue to vote for the status quo, so same old Tory Labour.
Reform have policies that I and my family agree with. I make NO APOLOGY here for that, ever. The others do not.
Tell me who to vote for, please?
I know who you will vote for. Reform. A populist one trick pony party that have tapped into people’s frustrations. But without offering any credible solutions. The mainstream parties need to sort themselves out, to deliver solutions, otherwise we end up like America, with trailer trash politics and even greater division. Looking inwards is very rarely the answer. And many of our problems, like immigration, and the cost of living are global problems. (Its much worse in many other countries) So our nation needs to out there, on the global stage, to have a serious say on tackling these big issues, not look inwards on ourselves.
Ah, there you go. Thank you, I will.
Just one detail though.
“So our nation needs to out there, on the global stage, to have a serious say on tackling these big issues, not look inwards on ourselves.”
Just how are Reform not planning to be on the global stage? I’ve not heard that Reform will withdraw from NATO ( like many wanted in young Labour ) or leave the UNSC P5 ( like many on the lefts wet dream ) or withdraw from the G7.
That is exactly what firstly UKIP, then the Brexit Party, then Reform voters wanted, to be a self governing nation on the world stage without being some star on the EU’s flag.
So I disagree about the inward bit.
I’d not worry too much anyway mate, the chances are slim that Reform would even get in, the establishment looks after itself in that regard ( see the rushed changes to the rules regards voting for future Mayor of Manchester quietly and quickly pushed through the other day to complicate a Reform Mayor replacing Burnham.
So we will continue with the same old, same old.
But you could say, not being in the EU has shrunk our standing in the world. It certainly didn’t give us control of our boarders. I don’t think leaving has been the disaster some make out. But it hasn’t been great for us either.
One perspective on Brexit is that it was a cry from the heart of English identity. Like Scotland, England as a political entity, ‘disappeared’ in the Union. With devolution Scotland acquired its own parliament. Scottish football and rugby teams sing their own ‘national’ anthem. The Scots have a much stronger sense of their own identity and community than ‘the English’. I voted to remain in the EU, but I can see now that withdrawal was an essential condition for the UK to ‘remember’ England and for England to decide what kind of ‘nation’ it wanted to be. We rejected the old world of Cameron, the bombastic Johnson and the ‘Singapore on Sea’ of Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak was a competent and decent caretaker. In several steps the country elected the current centre left labour govt. The last outgoing conservative govt did it’s best to derail the incoming govt by cutting employees NI; desperate scorched earth politics. Starmer and Reeves have stabilised the ship and survived long enough for Burnham to take the helm. The Makerfield results are a true reflection of England – Lancastrian. We have remembered who we are: priceless. Burnham has come south – it’s missionary work 🙂
Well said.
Thank you.
Perhaps more importantly the £4.5bil for cycle lanes wasn’t real.
It is £4.5bil for transport infrastructure generally. 3% or £135Mil is for walking and cycle routes.
Yes, exactly. People don’t understand the facts, but are quick to try and use such stats to bash them.
The problem with the “needle is stuck” statement about record breaking increases in spending since the end of the Cold War is it’s actually True.
But the bar on that achievement is so low an Ant pushing a Penny over it would qualify the statement 😂
i hope he quickly sees that lammy, reeves, rayner,streeting are removed to th department of agriculture or the ministry of silly walks.
I think Reeves will definitely be a goner. Rayner back 😖 Lammy. God knows.
Refreshing post compared to the ones you often see about politicians being traitors, deliberately running down our defences to dangerous levels, and deserving of .
Starmer was chosen as an uninspiring but safe-pair of hands. But he fumbled making unnecessary mistakes (u-turns, Mandelson, etc) and indecisiveness in tackling the big issues (welfare, defence, etc).
Not a bad man, just not up to the job.
I don’t think they are all snakes. I think its a bloody difficult and thankless job. As a MP or PM. Its so easy to criticise from a far.
The main thing he should have had was a clear plan and platform that he was voted in on.
Whilst government continues with this ‘doge the opinion poll to not annoy the most people approach’ then this situation of spineless government will continue.
He also had zero discernible leadership skills.
I’m sure he is a good sinceer bloke but not a PM.
The main thing he should have had was a clear plan and platform that he was voted in on.
Whilst government continues with this ‘doge the opinion poll to not annoy the most people approach’ then this situation of spineless government will continue.
He also had zero discernible leadership skills.
I’m sure he is a good sinceer bloke but not a PM.
I agree pal 👍
Kier’s issue was getting funding for the DIP whilst also spending masses on the welfare state until everyone was happy.
Wasn’t going to happen however I’m not sure Kier believed a war was going to happen so he was gambling whilst trying to make the right noises.
Defence is expensive however perhaps not as expensive as at first it seems. There is a financial way through this.
The issue is will the next PM be able to see this and decide to take the bold moves necessary.
My particular favourite is his line on having overseen the biggest uplift in spending on defence since the Cold War… I could’ve claimed the same if I’d posted a tenner to the MoD. It’s been nothing but cuts since the 90s!
Yes 😊
Hi DM – I am hopeful the new incoming PM will bring fiscal discipline and an investment increase to the defence budget, no more deferring/delaying.
Starmer will do anything to further delay the DIP 😀
Good news of course but is there any news on an Arrowhead order from the Danes?
Later this year it will be announced. Babcock has floated the idea of them being built in Denmark however, to revive Danish ship building to that point would be costly and extremely time inefficient at a time where they want to rapidly replace the IVHD class with something that actually works before the next crisis flairs up.
Off topic, but of interest as the Americans try and deal with the Ayatollah’s nearl bomb grade HEU
The combined US-Israeli bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites in June 2025 crippled it’s atomic infrastructure, but failed to destroy its highly enriched uranium. Before the strikes, the IAEA estimated Iran held 440.9kg of 60% enriched uranium. This crucial material has survived entirely due to the strategic incompetence of Donald Trump, whose erratic public bragging and joint threats with Netanyahu ruined the critical element of surprise.
By repeatedly broadcasting the top-secret military timeline on social media weeks in advance, Trump gave the IRGC an explicit early warning. The IRGC exploited Trump’s blabbering to execute a rapid evacuation plan. Days before the June 13, 2025 attacks, the 441kg stockpile was hastily salvaged, split up, and dispersed across multiple hidden locations, to avoid a single catastrophic hit
Satellite imagery captured a frantic fleet of 16 heavy cargo trucks smuggling the uranium out of the Fordow plant near Qom. The inventory was divided into smaller batches: a large portion was rushed into the deep granite caverns of Pickaxe Mountain at Natanz, while some of the specialized cylinders containing the remaining gas were tracked entering the south tunnel gate of the Isfahan complex and elsewhere. Iran successfully scattered its near weapons-grade material into several fortified mountain networks, safely below the blast radius of American bunker-buster bombs.
Following the bombings, Trump’s operational failure became a total intelligence black hole. The Ayatollahs locked out IAEA inspectors and deactivated cameras. By mid-2026, satellite tracking revealed the IRGC had used heavy earth-movers to deliberately collapse and mine sixty-nine tunnel entrances, trapping the safely dispersed HEU deep underground. As the current, tense, 60-day negotiation window opens, Trump’s big mouth has left the West completely blind, negotiating with a regime that has kept its nuclear bomb-making material intact.
You’re right, it’s off topic.
I found it an interesting post, though, if true.
Yeah but we all know what they did in the telegraphed prelude to the attack.
And it’s irrelevant to a large-degree as Iran have found out they already possess a far more devastating weapon – the ability to wreak indiscriminate financial chaos on the planet by closing the Straits of Hormuz.
Iran has emerged from this pointless war as not just a regional power but one that now has a global impact.
Agreed, courtesy of that buffoon in the White House.
What sort of time period could it take before pipelines are built to bypass the issue?
Assume even then they’d lack the capacity?
I think that comparison is unnecessarily harsh on “buffoons”.
Well it’s no doubt something Saudi will be investing in, but that just gets you to the Red Sea, and the Houthis will have been taking notes from the Iranians…
One silver-lining from this is that it’s acted as a catalyst for the transition to renewables.
I prefer It when you just hurl Insults, at least we all have a great laugh.
😂😂😂🫂
‘Listen, idiot’ 🤣🤣
Yeah, didn’t think that one was necessary.
@Halfwit
Well you asked for it.
Why did the halfwit get excited when he finished a jigsaw puzzle in six months? Because the box said “2-4 years.”
How many halfwits does it take to change a lightbulb? Three. One to hold the bulb and two to turn the ladder.
Oh gawd, not another name. 🫡
No! The same name since I joined a few weeks ago. A play on my name.
Don’t you go changing your name. It really suits you! 🤣
I won’t, It’s brilliant at attracting people like you.
Oh and welcome MR newbie 🤦♂️
You mean like flies on …..?
The incompetent buffoon still made more than highly intelligent people in UK/Europe and elsewhere.
“Change” is a vogue word repeated since I saw Brown vehemently ranting about it.
“REAL change” he was saying.
Real change will occur when we have people in charge of the country who are professionals in their fields. Who has any experience amongst MPs of running a big business? The UK IS a business, not a plaything to be subjected to your chosen ideology.
Agree about Farage. Yet, he will try to action dealing with illegal immigration, IF the blob don’t sabotage, which I also believe in and is the main reason I will continue to vote for him until a grown up arrives in the Tory party. I obviously won’t be voting for Labour Tory as they’ve caused the problem in the first place and the Lib Dems would be even worse.
I don’t repeatedly vote for failure.
My apologies, this was meant for Spy further up thread, not a stand alone post.
I don’t vote full stop.
What do you reckon about Kemi, Daniele? I have been impressed in more recent times. An actual bona fide economic liberal is a huge vote winner in my book
Well she’s from where I’m from! So that is a start. I’ve not read about their policies, the usual right noises regards Defence and Immigration, all water off a ducks back, boring old chestnuts.
Noone has a background in business….got a PhD in BS however😂
Reading the posts regarding the UK Government and viewed against the dwindling UK defence forces only confirms the opinion held about the globe that the UK is an ungovernable basket case and something of a joke.
The last 10 years since the Brexit referendum has seen the UK have 7 prime ministers. It would be easy to conclude that the UK is an ungovernable basket case. But bear in mind that the last 10 years has also seen huge changes – Brexit fallout, a new era in monarchy, covid, war in Ukraine and Trump. The UK has taken a beating but our constitution has held as has our support for Ukraine. There have been ‘casualties’ – Starmer and Reeves have absorbed most of the political and economic punishment of the last 2 years, which was frankly inevitable once departing chancellor Hunt cut employees NI. But we have weathered the storm and are emerging with more stable economy and public services, lower immigration and a number of key bi- lateral defence agreements in place. If Burnham is the new prime minister I would expect a bolder interpretation of borrowing for investment, associated increases in business rates for land whose value is increased by new infrastructure investment and a ‘care levy’ to help fund social care. I think the books will balance and defence will be adequately funded.
Amazing how one person can project his opinion as being that of the globe. What an ego.
TBH with the current state of the world, it shouldn’t be difficult for any company in the defence sector to be growing revenue.
Who, though? And more importantly, who would want to build the ships in the UK?
The Danes are potential candidates, but would need a ship ready for peer air warfare operations. Furthermore, the Babcock bid appears to be floating domestic Danish construction.
The Chilean opportunity is also seeking domestic construction with assistance from Babcock.
The RNZN will most likely go for Mogami, but could go for T31.
That’s a best two ships being built in Rosyth. Not enough to sustain the yard.
If we go for the Australian Mogami style deal with Chile that would help the yard. Offer them however many they want but the first one or two are to be built here quicker than what they could manage. A reasonable looking compromise and still give us some domestic production in a way that makes future sales more likely.
What’s the chance of another defence review dodge now with Starmer going .
You know what they say, revenge is sweet.
If I was Starmer, I would give everything the military want in the dip to signal that you are serious on defending the country. Then watch Burnham having to back track and u-turn on everything.
Just like leaving a fart in the elevator 😂
You mean a DIP..DIP…DIP..!.. Or a Son of DIP…?
That’s It, I’m taking up a Martial Art.
Way too serious here today.
Hope Babcock can click a few more websites with the AH140/T31. In addition Indonesia is also eyeing the Mogami so maybe more there still and NZ is still to happen and Denmark and maybe a few more the RN fingers crossed. And get the 31 T31s by 2031!
It would be nice if NZ bought the Type 31, I understand if they go with the mogami to stay the same as Australia but I think the small payload module, better DC and extra 2-3000nmi range of the Type 31 better fits NZ needs. And with it being a pretty module design when purchasing they can up or down gun it as needed.
Denmark probably will go for the Type 31 being very similar to the Iver Heidfeldt, and they could stick on the mk.56 cells as well.
But I don’t see why Indonesia would bother with the Mogami given they already have a AH140. They fill the same role, cost roughly the same, Mogami has the fancy control room and a bit of a better radar but worse DC, slightly worse modularity and lower range. Buy one or the other but not both. If they want more ships they should just go with some more AH140 given they already have it.
It would be nice if NZ bought the Type 31, I understand if they go with the mogami to stay the same as Australia but I think the small payload module, better DC and extra 2-3000nmi range of the Type 31 better fits NZ needs. And with it being a pretty module design when purchasing they can up or down gun it as needed.
Denmark probably will go for the Type 31 being very similar to the Iver Heidfeldt, and they could stick on the mk.56 cells as well.
But I don’t see why Indonesia would bother with the Mogami given they already have a AH140. They fill the same role, cost roughly the same, Mogami has the fancy control room and a bit of a better radar but worse DC, slightly worse modularity and lower range. Buy one or the other but not both. If they want more ships they should just go with some more AH140 given they already have it. If they initially went for a mogami then they should go for more mogami
You’d think for more AH140s but the Naval News site has an article 14th May about Indonesia looking at Mogami’s as well. Maybe just checking it out like NZ but Japan must be seeing some more opportunities here. May the better ship win.
*websites?? …wins
So the Times is reporting the 32 and 83 are gone in the DIP, so the question comes back to once more, what does Babcock do once hull number 5 is done?