The UK Carrier Strike Group, led by flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth, has successfully completed the first phase of its autumn deployment.
This involved participating in a series of simulated strike missions in the North Sea and Norwegian Sea alongside international naval partners.
“HMS Queen Elizabeth and her embarked jets and helicopters have proven their ability to provide the “punch” of the UK Carrier Strike Group during a series of simulated strike missions alongside international partners”, the press release stated.
Joining the aircraft carrier for these combat simulations were several ships from the UK and allied nations. Among these were the Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond, Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker RFA Tideforce, Norwegian ships HNoMS Otto Sverdrup and HNoMS Maud, Dutch ships HNLMS De Zeven Provincien and HNLMS Van Amstel, and the Belgian frigate BNS Louise Marie.
The exercises featured HMS Queen Elizabeth’s F-35 Lightning fighter jets from 617 Squadron, Merlin helicopters from 820 Naval Air Squadron, and Wildcat helicopters from 815 and 847 Naval Air Squadrons. Their missions varied, ranging from defending against aerial threats to suppressing enemy air defences and executing strike attacks.
Additionally, HMS Queen Elizabeth and her Carrier Strike Group showcased their medical capabilities, including advanced resuscitation techniques, trauma surgery, and casualty evacuations.
The next phase of the deployment will feature UK forces collaborating with ships and personnel from Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) nations, which include countries such as Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.
Commodore James Blackmore, Commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group, was quoted as saying, “CSG23 is off to a great start. Integrated training within the air and maritime environments, and alongside our European allies, has demonstrated the capability and agility of UK Carrier Strike.”
“Integrated training within the air and maritime environments, and alongside our European allies, has demonstrated the capability and agility of UK Carrier Strike”, reaffirmed Commodore James Blackmore.
So the British Carrier Strike Group had only one1 British warship to escort! In wartime, would allied navies still supply escorts?
I wouldn’t bet on it but HMG is doing exactly that! They are gambling with our national defence!
But surely this is all about training up NATO allies to be able to operate in support of our carriers as we would almost certainly be in a major conflict together. It’s called being flexible, yes we should have more ships but what happened, happened, and you can’t suddenly wish up those extra hulls. I am more concerned that this Govt has taken many many months to take action to replenish stocks sent to Ukraine, announces orders will be made, but they either have yet to materialise or have taken far too long to make them happen, despite all that… Read more »
Flexibility and training is one thing, but it would seem that HMS Kent which was expected to join in, instead came into Portsmouth for some unexpected work early this month, even having divers down.
According to this article – The struggle to get HMS Somerset back to sea | Navy Lookout HMS Somerset was supposed to join the carrier as well, but is in drydock to repair persistent rudder issues.
Two ships supposedly slated for the carrier group breaking down is not a great look.
Well said. The state of our navy is indeed disgraceful. But of all the service the RN has the least problems. That’s a fact.
Kent is obviously in poor condition and the whole question of her viability as a current ship in the fleet will be in question. If it’s too many£££’s to get her back to operations the MOD MIGHT NOT FUND IT.
Exactly
Wasting resources supplying a failed state and non NATO member. Is exactly the kind of poor governance that has left us in this dire situation. Are you aware that only 30% of aid supplied ever reaches the front line in Ukraine. Weapons supplied to them are now appearing in the hands of Hamas and are being used against Israel. Which incidentally would be a far better cause worthy of our patronage.
It’s a sad thing to admit but the problems inherent in our current political system, are way beyond quick fixes or minor tweaking.
What weopons have we (Britain) supplied to Ukraine now in the hands of Hamas? Please list
You ask the impossible! Go watch the footage of dead Hamas soldiers along with their Western weapons. See if you can identify them. BTW The 30% figure is being quoted by people with direct links to intelligence agencies.
I suspect you are either promoting, or taking in by, the bogus story and video that Social media users are sharing, which claims there’s a direct link between the wars playing out in Ukraine and the Middle East. The clip purports to show a BBC News story about a recent report from Bellingcat on Ukraine providing arms to Hamas. This is fake and both the BBC and bellingcat have said they did not produce the story and confirmed it’s a fake, go check it out. And regarding your concern about dead hamas fighters, how about you condemning them for butchering… Read more »
I’m a supporter of Israel and the IDF is the only other armed force I would have joined other than the British Army. Despite my age, if I were healthier I would be there now. That democracy with universal suffrage deserves all our support. A much more deserving cause than Ukraine.
The bogus BBC story could be smoke and mirrors. I don’t think the IDF would throw down UAR-15 beside dead Hamas fighters for propaganda purposes. Why would they?
Utter rubbish
“Are you aware that only 30% of aid supplied ever reaches the front line in Ukraine.”
Any evidence to support that claim? I doubt it’s true, unless of course you count non-military support e.g. humanitarian support.
“Weapons supplied to them are now appearing in the hands of Hamas and are being used against Israel.”
Again, please provide evidence for this total bollocks.
“It’s a sad thing to admit but the problems inherent in our current political system, are way beyond quick fixes or minor tweaking.”
Not disagreeing there, but that’s got absolutely nothing to do with Ukraine.
George might be on to something – there were social media posts put up by Hamas Scum after saturdays massacre boasting that their Weapons had been supplied via Ukraine – after the dust had settled the story had changed to Weapons captured by Russians in Ukraine from Ukranian Soldiers that had been passed on to Hamas.Also Weapons left in Afghanistan after the Government fell to the Taliban have also found their way into Gaza – https://www.kyivpost.com/post/22522
I count all aid, military and humanitarian. You ask for evidence. Who do you think I am? Like everyone else I try to read a balance of releases from both sides. Biased, propaganda laden half truths and outright lies most of the time. The nearest things to “proof” would be the western weapons captured from Hamas terrorists and see on news footage with my own eyes. In addition to the proliferation of counter propaganda stories being spun vociferously by the usual US/UK outlets. Also, the admitted investigations and sacking of senior Ukrainian officers and officials for corruption, including misappropriation of… Read more »
So glad you figured it all out uncle George, your free mind has linked it all together, wow, mind blown man! The BBC and our other propaganda outlet nearly had us all fooled. Thank god you have decided to post the truth on the Defence Journal, which is obviously another propagate outlet.
Oh well, we will just have to wait and see what comes out in the wash. The first victim of war is the truth. This squabble between two founding soviet union countries is no different.
People need to be a little more sceptical when it comes to the utterances of politicians. We question their honesty on domestic matters but blindly follow the party line when it comes to taking sides in times of conflict. The crazy thing is I understand why.
Ukraine is fighting for its life and needs every weapon and round of ammunition it can get – why would they give up any western weapons to anyone, let alone to the brutish Hamas?
Makes no sense at all.
Ask those high ranking and junior officer, who have been sacked for corruption. Why they appropriated weapons for sale on the black market? Greed obviously trumps patriotism for them. That is what happens when they are raised in a corrupt society. It’s exactly the same in Russia. I’ve told everyone before that there is little to choose between them. It’s the result of being a recovering soviet founding state. Things are different for countries like Poland, Hungary, E. Germany etc. They were conquered and forced to be communist after WWII. But Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and the Transcaucasia states are rotten… Read more »
So hamas are using storm shadow now? It looks to me like AK47s which I doubt uk spplied
There been gambling for year’s David it’s pathetic 😕
And have been for fifty years. The world is laughing at us with our have we still got one? Army, the doddering old wrecks we call the air force, as for the navy, think u.s coastguard size
What old wrecks do the RAF fly?
Navy – it is pointless comparing ourselves to the world’s only superpower – we have the second most capable (and third largest) navy in NATO. It is one of only three bluewater navies in the world.
David, this is nothing to do with ‘national defence’ ie defending our homeland on our own, without allies.
You should read up on the JEF.
Horse stable dorr, bolted. The reasons are obvious neglect and incompetence, for which nobody has ever been made to explain
NATO is a thing called an alliance. As there are only 3 real carriers in European NATO (2 x UK and 1 x France) if a carrier is needed it will need to be escorted and it is then in the mutual interest of all to do so. There is a reason these exercises are done to practise how to assemble a fleet. It isn’t really the present govemerment that caused the issues with surface fleet size. It was about only ordering T45 (but too few hulls so more load on T23) when the situation was desperate and then the… Read more »
100 % correct Bloke the trolls don’t understand what NATO means.
Spot on Peter
Agreed, a sufficient number of escorts, collectively supplied by NATO allies, is not the real issue. However, a viable Plan B, if Ft. Victoria remains unavailable for deployment…🤔😳
We are hoping the US is going to lease us a supply vessel 😀
Agree that is probably the unannounced contingency plan. Viable, unless/until USN becomes fully preoccupied by PLAN!🤔😳
I believe the point that Bruce was making, is if the UK go to war on its own again (Argentina or whoever), NATO would NOT be providing escort ships, for a UK aircraft carrier.
That is exactly how HMG is playing with UK defence, and our armed forces.
It is yet another example, of the reckless stupidity, bordering on criminal negligence, that this government has treated the UK Armed Forces.
The point I was trying to make is that it isn’t the present government that has created this mess.
The origins of the mess go back decades.
At least there are firm orders placed for 13 replacements.
I agree with Tom on the stupidity what’s gone on with Defence, on the issue of 13 Replacements let’s hope it stays that way ,who’s to say this won’t be cut I pray not 🙏
It’s certainly made it worse, though.
The present government is the one that’s cut over 40,000 troops from the armed forces, slashed the RAF to barely 130 fighter aircraft, and cut the number of frigates and destroyers down to 19 and now even lower.
3 carriers and dozens of escort vesells. The main thing we bring to the party is the carrier others have plenty of escorts to go around. Main thing is training and integrating.
Yes this shows what kicking the can down the road on the T23 replacement has done…effectively we have an ASW escort force that cannot really now be depended on…the fact 2 T23 were meant to be part of this deployment and are instead unable to deploy is not a good thing. Yes working with NATO is important but we were meant to have two RN ASW escorts on this deployment….The RN need to practice as well….
While reduced numbers is never good the other NATO navies will be allocated taskings in war and some of these will be with the RN! What else, what effect, could one or two small nation frigates have upon the overall plan unless incorporated into a bigger scheme of manoeuvre.
If NATO has gone to war, then yes, obviously. And we would be able to deploy more escorts if we took them off of other commitments, which are also largely in support of NATO.
Yea they would it’s, called NATO
It’s a shocking state of affairs. We blame HMG but the armed forces community have let them get away with it. Where were the demonstrations of displeasure from the senior officers. No direct action by the rank and file either. Imagine if the top brass of each branch held a press conference, outlining the dreadful plight of the armed forces. Supported by actual evidence which is currently swept under the rug. For a long time I’ve advocated a bigger slice of GDP for our armed forces. Along with a bigger role in running the country. Roles in education, the NHS,… Read more »
Did you post this after reading a riveting chapter in Mein Kamph?
Bruce, This was a British-led JEF exercise so of course allied nations contributed escorts. Why do you think we need an all-British escort force in wartime? Why do you think allies would not be alongside us in wartime – we have always fought alongside/with allies.
I guess I was too sarcastic. My point was simply the RN should have more escorts. The government should have never allowed the escorts to fall below 20.
Thanks Bruce. (Are you ex-Welbeck, lived in Horsham, ex-REME?) by any chance?
Not me, sorry.
Hi Graham,
Who fought alongside us in 1982?
OK, one time our navy fought alone.
Perhaps I should have been a bit pedantic and said that ‘we almost always fight in significant naval conflicts alongside allies’. So that accounts for why we train with allies ie why this CSG includes a lot of allied ships.
So if we re-run Op Corporate do we have enough national escorts, so as to set your mind at rest. I think we have min of two T45 available and possibly five T23 frigates available.
I served in the military for 23 years working alongside NATO allies. Apart from the USA not one other nation would I either trust or think willing and capable of having your back. One exception would be the Legions but politicians in their home nation are not to be trusted to commit.
I would trust Canada, Australia and NZ.
Australia and NZ are not NATO allies. Canada I do not rate largely because the political will in the country would limit commitments. Australia now if only. Political will and the fighting spirit to match. A force to be reckoned with.
NZ not a credible military force. Limited political commitment.
I served on all three Invincible class carriers and our normal air group, even on exercise, was eight SHARs, eight ASW Sea Kings and three AEW/ASAC Sea Kings. QNLZ apparently has eight F35Bs, five Merlins ASW/ASAC and a couple of Wildcats currently embarked. Perhaps we should have built six 22,000 tonne carriers instead of two 60,000 tonne carriers?
F35B is a lot bigger than Harrier.
2 x speed
2 x payload
2 x range
Never mind stealth and sensors.
So having 8 x F35B is like capability cubed.
I’ve spent time on one of the Invincibles and the hangar shuffle was no fun even with Harrier.
I think you’d have ended up with 40kt carriers and not much cost difference to 60kt.
The main advantage of 60kt is the handling space and multiple lifts so there can be a really linear hanger -> deck process to generate fast air fast.
Indeed, small carriers are better than nothing but no serious alternative to a full sized one these days with all the complex needs of modern aircraft and equipment in an Ocean environment. 20,000 ton carriers will be barely blue water these days with F-35s and a pig to re supply one presumes.
He’s right on Merlin though. For me, a bigger pinch point than lack of F35s.
We really needed those 11 HM1 updated to HM2 so 849 NAS could have remained as dedicated ASCS.
5 Merlin covering both roles. I thought the previous CSG deployment had 8 Merlin.
It is far more likely that CrowsNest goes to drone and releases cabs for other duties. I think this is what a lot of the drone trials in the US are about. If the answer is that QEC can launch and land a high flying AEW drone, maybe even one that exists today? Or maybe one based around CAPTOR2 as that is UK IP that is in final trials? That ASW cabs are augmented by drones carrying sonar buoys – that part could be real in 12 months or sooner as it is an active area of interest for a… Read more »
Yes, we’ve read that here at length. 12 months sounds awfully fast for the MoD!
You must know that LM has not yet built and delivered all the F-35s we ordered.
Billions spent on the carriers. Billions more spent on F-35B, yet their heaviest weapon is a 500lb Paveway IV. UK F-35B really need a heavy stand off weapon under the wings. JSM?
We do. As well as improving the capability of the aircraft, it would allow the carrier to operate further offshore reducing the risk from land based SSM’s and mines
OK, stupid question time, exactly what weapons can the Uk field on the F35 at this moment in time. its all good and fancy claiming we own one of the most advanced aircraft in the world, yet according to the RAF own web page on the F35B it goes into battle armed with and I quote:
And we haven’t actually purchased any gun pods yet…..to make the most of what little we have the F35Bs need a stand off missile for land attack and for anti-ship like LRASM and JSM or something similar, but of course we have no intention of going there……
Will gun pods be much use on an F-35 seems to contradict its whole point. When would it be used? But what do I know.
In Vietnam US Navy pilots became too reliant on missiles, so the Navy
created a training school to teach its pilots air to air combat/dog fighting, including the use of guns, they called it the Fighter Weapons School, the pilots call it Top Gun……all aerial interceptors have guns, the F35B should be no exception!!
Spot on paul 👍
The F35 isn’t an Interceptor – it’s a Strike Fighter able to carry A2A Missiles.
When it’s flying Combat Air Patrols to protect the carrier its operating in the Fighter/Interceptor role and needs to be equipped accordingly.
You need to look at the 35 as three different AC which is what they are with a commonality of parts. The A is a genuine interceptor. The B is a ground attack AC designed for a USMC specification. It has a self defence capability. It is not and never will be a true interceptor. It’s well published problems in supersonic flight are no nearer to be solved. The C is a naval carrier based version capable of being thrown into the air and slammed on the deck on return. It is an interceptor. Incidentally putting a gun pod or… Read more »
Agree. An air launched ASM has been No1 on my shopping list for some time. Never mind the clamour for ASM on ships. For me, it is the jet that is the main attack weapon regards OPFOR vessels.
All goes back to Block IV again. The weapons are there, or coming, but we cannot use them!
Has Britain bought any 25mm gun pods?
No plans for any purchase of Gun Pods.
We don’t do things like John sadly 🤗
That’s not unique to UK F-35Bs, more weapons are coming, but they are currently limited in the US as well, mostly bombs so far. You will probably get your awesome UK weapons integrated when we in the US get LRASM integration… Here is what USMC Bs and Cs currently carry: Weapon Stations • Internal • 2 x AIM-120 AMRAAM • F-35B 2 x 1,000 pound class (air-air or air-surface) • F-35C 2 x 2,000 pound class (air-air or air-surface) • External • 2 x AIM-9X SIDEWINDER, 25mm Gun Pod • F-35B 2 x 1,000 pound class + 2 x 5,000 pound… Read more »
Not a terrific choice is it esp for a strike aircraft.
The Marines had no other choice than to buy the B, there was no other Harrier replacement and the USMC needed a plane to operate from LHAs/LHDs and expeditionary airfields and wanted the 5th gen capabilities. They also needed a replacement for their ageing legacy (non-super) Hornets. As a Harrier and legacy Hornet replacement it’s a phenomenal aircraft, as a strike platform it will be very good once the full panoply of weapons is available. The Marines also fly the C model from CVNs (eventually 4 squadrons), those are better than the Bs by any measure, but they can’t operate… Read more »
Japan has bought JSM for its F-35A & Kongsberg has offered to integrate/fit JSM under the wings of Japanese F-35B. If that happens, it would be stupid for Britain to ignore that ready made option.
Well I guess we were only planning them for Air Shows not actual fighting. I wonder how many seconds extra detection free time stealth will give it during a bomb run. Just read the US is introducing its new anti surface weapon SiAW for its F35s fitting internally to target a wide range of land and sea based targets and to replace HARM too, in entry date 2026. Doubt we will order that either mind. Mind you does it fit in the B version hopefully does.
SPEAR 3 is the next weapon. Enhanced Paveway 4 provides all weather day and night precision strike capability for fixed and moving targets.It can be re-targeted in flight and 6 weapons can hit 6 different target’s in one pass. Its a very very capable weapon. Different fuse settings and impact angles also make it unique.
ASRAAM AMRAAM and Enhanced Paveway 4. EP4 provides day/night all-weather precision strike capability against fixed and moving targets at stand-off ranges. It can be re-targeted in flight, has different impact a angles and fuse settings (Airburst/deep penetration ect )and the warhead can be dialed down so they can target an individual sniper on a hospital roof without taking out half the hospital for example. And 6 weapons can hit 6 different targets in one pass. SPEAR 3 and Meteor are the next weapons to be integrated. PE4 is the most widely used weapon by a long way used by the… Read more »
Robert, Thanks for that, but the point i tried to make is today and not tomorrow. The Uk is not only the only tier one partner regards the F35, it has been operating them since 2013 (Albeit in a test and adjust fashion until 2018) you’d think that with at least 5 years of operating them, somebody at the MOD would have pushed for it to have at least some sort of ,long range PGM capability esp in light of how its main mission statement is to operate off a flattop at sea. Spear 3 isnt set to come on… Read more »
So you do know what weapons it has 😉 The other standoff weapon available would be StormShadow, but Typhoon has that capability. We can’t wave a magic wand and purchase additional weapons overnight. So we have to look to the future with SPEAR 3 and SPEAR EW. StormShadow replacement will also like be integrated onto F35. Standoff weapons are the best solution, but the F35’s stealth allows it to pentrate integrated air defence systems that a Typhoon simply could not. And EP4 is a superb all round weapon. Typhoon has dropped far more EP4’s than fired Brimstones and StormShadows because… Read more »
Hi Robert, Interesting comments on Typhoon. Admittedly I am a huge Typhoon fan but recognise it’s not in the same league as the F-35 due to the latter’s stealth characteristics etc.,. My question though is would the Typhoon’s DASS – of which I understand the RAF’s aircraft has the most comprehensive suit – not protect it in contested airspace against the likes of S300/400? It also Carrie’s Britecloud now too. If not, what’s the point of the DASS? I have often read that S400 would be certain death for all but the stealthiest of fighters but is that really true?… Read more »
The honest answer ref S300/400 is I don’t know. DASS is very capable, but all aspect stealth still brings a huge advantage to survivability. The F35 also has a defensive aids system as good if not better than DASS. The situational awareness capability also makes a big difference. I think when it comes down to it, the politicians don’t want to take the risk on night one of a major conflict with 4th gen aircraft. Regardless of the capability of the systems installed. ECRS MK2 on Typhoon will make a big difference to its survivability. Its up to the politicians… Read more »
Meteor will great, an over the horizon missile. But paveway requires the aircraft to be over the target or not far from it. Stand off weapons are a better option.
EP4 can be dropped from a surprisingly far standoff distance. Its designed to glide a very long way. Meteor is for the long range BVR air to air engagement. Its biggest advantage over AMRAAM is it has a considerably larger no escape zone at the far edges of its maximum launch range. 👍
Depending on the weather of course. “Among a number of residual issues that remain with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the matter of the jet’s defenses against lightning strikes, or lack thereof, continues to be a particularly vexing issue. For the U.S. Marine Corps and its F-35B variant thunderstorms are still such a problem that the service is buying special portable lightning rods to help shield the jets when they’re parked outside at bases that otherwise don’t have the necessary infrastructure, which includes Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan. However, past contracting documents have outlined composite material skin on… Read more »
8 aircraft “Punch”…in a carrier for 24…or 48
I was wondering along similar lines. Eight F-35Bs hardly seems sufficient to maintain a CAP as well as conduct strike ops at any useful tempo. But, as a non ‘former Naval person’ I’m sure that the Lords of the Admiralty have a cunning plan or two.
Who are we at war with that we need to maintain a CAP or conduct strike missions?
I’m sure if we ever ended up in an armed conflict that we would stop the training and development activities and stick some more airframes on board…
Exactly. 8 does not mean forever like some immovable force field. In war, other stuff stops, planes are found, guns are added.
As has been pointed out a few times, it just doesn’t work like that. The flight deck of an aircraft carrier is one of the most dangerous places in the world and if you want to operate a good size airwing you have to spend a good deal of time training your deck crew to handle high tempo ops, you can’t just add a load of jets and expect to operate efficiently and safely, hence US Carriers always go to sea with a full CAG embarked enabling high tempo ops to begin at short notice. If we want our carriers… Read more »
Spot on 👍👌
Considering we had zero Carriers not so long ago when Ark and the Sea Harrier and Harrier forces were cut, and the complexity of regenerating the capability, I think we are doing pretty well! The initial order of 48 F35 has not even been fulfilled yet. The second front line Sqn has not yet formed. So for now you only see 8 F35. Out of a fleet of 35 or something, how many would you expect to be deployed on exercise at this time? 3 in the US on trials. Around 12, unsure to be honest, might be more, with… Read more »
Yep sadly we just have to wait no choice really 🐌 but chin up 🇬🇧
Lets hope we don’t have a European war where the F35s will be needed for deep Strike (it was originally ordered to replace Harrier and Tornado). Typhoon will be needed for Air Defence and will never be an all weather strike aircraft able to operate in defended airspace which is exactly what the F35 was designed for.
Typhoon is an All Weather Strike Aircraft able to Operate in Defended Airspace – what are you on about ?,.
F35 was to replace Harrier, Sea Harrier, yes. But not Tornado GR4, which I recall has a program called FOAS assigned. Future Offensive Air System. Typhoon replaced Tornado F3. Such has been the collapse in Fast Jet Sqn numbers, 22 or thereabouts down to 8 ( and that’s with a fiddle regards Typhoon Sqns) that the Strike role is left bare if F35 is deployed to the carriers. It’s an issue, no doubt about it. Typhoon has had a lot of money spent on it to take the GR4 role. Whether it can do it depends on how many are… Read more »
FOAS was cancelled in 2005 and replaced by DPOC which itself was cancelled in 2010. At the time it was anticiated that the shift to the F35C (from F35B) would cover the deep Stike role. But the return to the F35B scuppered that concept and DPOC died. It seems that the deep Strike role has now been rolled up with the Typhoon replacement FCAS/Tempest and in the meantine the 35B will have to suffice. I agree we may not be facing the manned bomber threat of the Soviet Union but Ukraine has demonstrated the Russian abilty to loose off multiple… Read more »
Was it that far back now! Well well. What is DPOC?
Deep and Persistent Offensive Capability (DPOC)
Ok, thanks. I’d missed that.
Hi Daniele
I believe there is a RN F35 sqn working up-809 sqn?
Progress being made.
Indeed. Delayed due to training and infrastructure issues at Marham I understand.
thanks D.
Yeahhh
👍
Daniel, with tongue in cheek, think 🤔 of the airframe hours saved! 🙃Let’s get 809 on the line.
Two carriers insuffient aitcraft for even one ship, shortage of subs, frigates and destroyers. Huge cost and reducing tank and troop numbers to pay for the ships. What a political farce
I’m ex forces and in my career was involved with other NATO Forces. However I do have one query. Recently it was stated that if a Nato members land is invaded by another country then it is the same as that aggressor attacking any other NATO member’s territory so they would go to the members aid.
Why did we fight alone during the Falklands conflict? If that would happen today would the American marines with their F35 aircraft currently onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth disappear.
THAT, Kevine is a very, very interesting question. AND it made me laugh out loud, because in the thirty odd years since the conflict, I’ve seen no commentary on that point and it’s something that never occurred to me either. Of course its relevance is as true today as it was in 1982. We are still responsible for remote territories and in the event of an invasion or coup, what would or could we do about it. If we had to ‘go it alone’. I do appreciate the update on the F-35 force, as I haven’t kept up to date… Read more »
Ajax is no longer a comedy. Perhaps you should get up to date Mike.
Tech fixes were done a year ago. Ajax completed User Validation Trials. MoD resumed payments. Ajax is 7 or 8 months into RGT. Ajax has been issued to HCR and variants to 6 Bn REME and used on a brigade exercise.
Perhaps Graham, you ought to learn the difference between truth and fiction.
The design flaws that ended soldier’s careers are still present. The manufacturer has mitigated these. But they remain. Nobody knows the risks to soldiers as vehicles incur wear and tear.
Ouch! Mike, I am just playing back commentary from the MoD, not from GDUK, and I advanced no personal opinions. The tech fixes were clearly mitigations which brought NVH criteria within limits, rather than fixes of the problems at source. As a chartered engineer and ex-REME officer I am less than impressed at GDUK’s ability to design and develop a complex AFV, but is it any surprise when this new UK company has never made an AFV before. MoD should have bought the recce variant of CV90, rather than have a vendetta against BAE. Creating jobs in an impoverished part… Read more »
You need to look at Article 6 from NATO for your answer.
Article 5 only comes into play if Article 6 is breached. A NATO country has to be attacked in the Northern Hemisphere. So an attack on New York would see it triggered – like it was. An attack on The Falklands – wouldn’t – like it wasn’t. For the purpose of Article 5, an armed attack on one or more of the Parties is deemed to include an armed attack: on the territory of any of the Parties in Europe or North America, on the Algerian Departments of France 2, on the territory of Turkey or on the Islands under… Read more »
Many thanks for that. I was in the military during the Falklands war and I do remember that we had some information from the French and eventually from Ron Reagan.
When NATO was formed the British Empire still existed. The main point of NATO was to protect Europe from Soviets. So this clause was put in to stop Britain ( and France and Spain and Portugal ) from calling on USA to help stop attacks on their overseas colonies/territories or Empires !
Most of the British Empire was south of the Tropic of Cancer.
This clause did what it was supposed to and left the U.K. to fight for its own overseas territory in The South Atlantic in the Southern hemisphere. .
👍
The Falklands is outside the NATO area of operations ie it is south of the Tropic of Cancer.
It’s a disgrace that we can’t provide each carrier with a proper British escort fleet or give them a proper complement of f35’s . It’s time the government got real on defence spending
Many on ukdj keep hoping for that but sadly war in Europe ,China flexing it muscles and trouble in the middle East and yet government don’t get it.And to be honest if we have a new government next year I wouldn’t be surprised for them to sit on there hands when it comes to Defence 😞
It’s not much of a punch more of a soft slap.
Monty Pythons fish slapping, ahahaha.
🐟🐟😂👍
A reference to a limited number of F-35Bs?
Personally, i’m outraged at the lack of Russian trolls here recently. Where’s the entertainment gone!
There are a couple I am suspicious about. T&D. Perhaps those who know more, could spot them?
The UK is currently reliant on allied assets to bulk up the UK CSG to a credible military force, and many thanks to the US, NL, NO, DA, etc. for this. But in a crisis, the national interests of even the closest allies can diverge. CVF and carrier strike was envisaged in 1997 as being a UK sovereign capability – with the mission statement “CVF is to be a joint defence asset with the primary purpose of providing the UK with an expeditionary offensive air capability that has the flexibility to operate the largest possible range of aircraft in the widest possible… Read more »
This is a JEF exercise so of course there were allied warships in the CSG.
So is that all the three jets we have onboard and with too few screen ships and no solid resupply the only thing it could strike would be Monaco.
Strike group? Half a dozen F35’S and a few tomahawks lobbed from an astute wouldn’t bother Cyprus, More p.r drivel
What a ‘punch’ – half a dozen F35’s! I bet only 3 or 4 are flyable at a time? When will we have enough to fully populate our very expensive carriers?
watch my comment get ‘moderated’ out…..
I do share the frustration, on aircraft & escorts. But we’ve always been limited by the buy rate. If we look at the positives both carrier’s are operational which wasn’t necessarily the initial plan at one point. T31 & T26 are seemingly progressing well & potentially at a quicker rate. BAE will now have the capability to build 2 ships simultaneously. Babcock are building 2 ships simultaneously. Small things like T83 already has the type designation & hints at a large powerful design not like. If push comes to shove we could probably generate a single CSG with 16 F35B… Read more »