In a written Parliamentary query addressed on the 22nd of May 2023, Kevan Jones, Labour MP for North Durham, sought clarity from the Secretary of State for Defence on a potential procurement.

His inquiry specifically addressed whether the Defence Department has plans to acquire the “Platform Universal Rigid Inflatable Boat Aerial Delivery system” for the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) fleet of A400M aircraft.

James Cartlidge, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, responded positively to the question.

“The Ministry of Defence (MOD) intends to tender for a universal boat delivery system (known as Large Boat Aerial Delivery) that will meet the current and future needs of the MOD,” he affirmed.

“Potential solutions to meet this requirement will be met via competition,” Mr. Cartlidge added, hinting at the competitive process to select the best option for this delivery system.

The A400M aircraft fleet would be the potential beneficiary of this intended procurement.

George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison

32 COMMENTS

  1. 🤣😂😁👍, although believe frigates are generally referred to as ships. However, SSNs and SSBNs are definitely termed boats…🤔😉

  2. What’s with all these opposition questions regards the military. Reminds me of Mike Hancock the Lib dem MP for Portsmouth South asking questions for his much younger Russian bit of stuff (Him 64, her 24) regards the British Nuke sub patrols a few years back
    https://i.postimg.cc/RVrpx2F8/Opera-Snapshot-2023-05-23-145343-www-theguardian-com.png

    But then the woke is strong across the Lib dems, with their leader today stating when asked what is a woman on LBC replied :
    “A woman can have a Penis”

  3. I still joke that I’m owed commission for selling the original PURIBAD to the US Navy SEALS 23 years ago

    • Sailing at 20kts for 24hrs a day, in 7 days she’d cover 3,360 nautical miles, so only about half way, if that. At 25kts(I doubt that speed could be sustained that long without damaging the engines) she’d make 4,200 nautilcal miles. So I’d think it would take at least 2 weeks to get there, probably longer as the resupply ships wouldn’t be able to keep up a steady 20kts & the QE & escorts would need to slow to resupply anyway.

  4. Navy X was just testing a PAC 24 Rib with an RWS on the front of it at Lulworth recently…That with a para drop would give you some interesting options oh and of course , with Brimstone…

    • A pity then a quarter of the RAF ATF is going then, less assets to deploy them!

      Assume in time all escorts, RFA, will have a couple?

      Yes, a very useful capability, if they ever actually order them and put them into service.

  5. Nothing particularly new about this, we dropped our dirigable Rescue boat by parachute in the 70s

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here