What are the land-attack capabilities of the Royal Navy?
James Cartlidge MP, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, outlined the Royal Navy’s existing capabilities, which include Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles from Astute Class Submarines, Paveway IV precision-guided bombs from F-35Bs, and the ongoing integration of the Naval Strike Missile on surface ships.
Cartlidge also mentioned ongoing considerations for future weapons systems under the Future Cruise and Anti-Ship Weapon programme.
The answer came to light via the following response to a Parliamentary Written Question:
Andrew Rosindell MP (Conservative – Romford), asked:
“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the land-attack missile capabilities of the Royal Navy; and what steps he has taken to strengthen those capabilities.”
James Cartlidge MP, Minister of State (Ministry of Defence), responded:
“Capability assessment is routine activity for Defence, ensuring that the UK Armed Forces keeps pace with the emerging threat and adopts the latest technology.
The Royal Navy (RN) is capable of delivering land attack from all domains: Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles launched from Astute Class Submarines; Paveway IV precision guided bombs from F-35B; and most recently, the Naval Strike Missile, which is in the process of being fitted to surface ships.
Several future options, which include a land attack capability, are also under consideration as part of the Future Cruise and Anti-Ship Weapon programme which will equip future RN ships. We continually keep all such capabilities under review, including as part of our wider munitions strategy.”
Easy one to answer…..almost nothing!!!
Limited stock of Tomahawk from an even more limited stock of SSN’s.
Paveway IV from the 8 F35’s we embark on the carriers for a few weeks every year.
NSM which is currently fitted to 1 frigate (Somerset) which is so beset with mechanical problems (despite a very expensive refit) that they haven’t been able to do trials with it yet.
And lots of T26/T31 MK41 silos to fill. Hope they’re preparing the order book. Wouldn’t it be prudent to top up TLAM stocks for the subs and upcoming ships if stocks and prices are good?
With the FCASW, do we know if the UK is getting both versions?
Yes it would be prudent, it would also be prudent to order in stockpiles of the weapons intended for the mk41 vls cells fitted to type 26 and type 31 frigtes, except MOD hasnt decided what weapons will go onboard and then the bean counters at the treasury will likely reduce the scope, numbers and plans by at least 75%. Sad state of affairs. I’d be happy if they fitted them with quad packed sea ceptor and JASM as well as some LRASM or tomahawks but we can live in hope.
Forgot Martlet. And Trident!
Wow going light to insane 🧐
Trident! Technically correct I suppose.
A lot more land attack capability than the RN had even ten years ago let alone at the time of the Falklands War.
we had two carriers then, each with a full compliment of air craft, not two half empty carriers with some USMC/USN F35’s on loan to fill the numbers out.
38 Harriers went to the Falklands AFAIK (we lost 10 of them). We have 34 F35s now and will receive at least 72.
It hardly needs to be said how vastly superior the F35s are.
Lost two to ground fire none air to air, where did you get the figure of 10 from?
Some were lost to accidents from memory 🤔.
800 NAS – 1 Sea Harrier FRS.1 from Hermes shot down over Goose Green. 1 KIA. 801 NAS – 2 Sea Harrier FRS.1s from Vince collided. 2 KIA. 1(F) Sqdn – 1 Harrier GR.3 shot down over Port Howard. 1 POW. 800 NAS – 1 Sea Harrier from Hermes crashed on take off. 1 KIA. 1(F) Sqdn – 1 Harrier GR.3 shot down over Goose Green. Pilot ejected and was later rescued. 801 NAS – 1 Sea Harrier FRS.1 slid off Vince’s deck. Pilot ejected and was rescued. 1(F) Sqdn – 1 Harrier GR.3 damaged by ground fire. Pilot ejected… Read more »
Mate, I thought some Harriers were also lost on Atlantic Conveyer? Or am I confused? I know the 3 other Chinooks were.
The previous carriers were only full because they were tiny. That’s like claiming you have more water because your thimble is full and their barrel is nearly empty.
CSG21 vs CSG82 would be a pushover even if F35s only have access to ASRAAM and Paveway.
i thought we were on about land attack,
Yes, the difference in capability is even more significant given F35’s carrying capacity of Paveway relative to Harrier with iron bombs and rockets.
do RN F-35s not operate AMRAAM as well? especially the AIM-120D3 is nothing to sneeze at!
Yes they do.
Only USMC F36Bs are capable of being deployed on either of the Royal Navy Queen Elizabeth class carriers as they were originally fitted for, but not fitted with the carrier launch system (cats) for “proper” carrier versions – the F35C’s. The B models were purchased for the RAF and the RN, the same as the USMC fly, with a STOVOL lift-fan and as a result compromised range and payload! The RAF should have got the F35A, a proper air interceptor and the RN should have got the F335C – a proper carrier version and left the ski-jump on the drawing-board… Read more »
What you really mean is they as always took the up front cheap option that they will likely have to sort out years down the line at great expense
The MN has MdCNs on its FREMM frigates as well as on the new Suffren subs. Plus SCALP on Rafale Ms. Atlantic 2s also have laser guided bombs.
Not a lot, what we can fire from are very few subs is old, low in numbers and not a single surface ship has land attack missiles and few have anti ship missiles. But do have some fancy short range F35s,
“We continually keep all such capabilities under review”
And we’ve decided the world is a joyful, friendly place so there’s no need for us to buy anything that goes bang.
Id be more worried about the growing 5th element of illegals within our own borders.
MOD is run by the treasury and squashed under a mystical, reality detached notion that spending 2% of GDP is all that a Conservative politician has to do in order to get a “Well Done Fella” badge for being strong on Defence.
The Royal Navy’s Land attack capabilities the Mk,1 Bootneck
I read that the block 3F F-35 was able to use the AGM-154C-1 JSOW. A 70 km stand off range that can also hit maritime moving targets. A good interim weapon for under the wings of UK F-35B, I would have thought.
Bit of an open question. Does this include the RMs? As I would say they are still a very good capability.
As a ship to shore effector, you should also include the ship’s guns. But also include its helicopter asset. Which if its a Wildcat, has Martlet and very soon Sea Venom.
Bit of a poor answer really (god help me I’m close to sympathising with a tory). A comprehensive answer could have included royal marines, special forces, amphibious assault, escort main guns, helicopter delivered weapons (including launching apaches), F35b armaments (he could have at least mentioned block iv expansion) etc etc.
Norwegian F35A also carry JSM primarily intended for the sea denial role so the softwares available if we chose to go that road. Sure Norwegian F35A carry JSM internally which we can’t as due to the lift fan etc the F35B has a shorter weapons bay but I believe Norwegian F35A also carry it on external pylons too when stealth is not so important and quantity valued more . I have seen some pics a while back of mock up JSM under the wings of a USMC F35B which I will try to link, one on each of the main… Read more »
Just posted but awaiting approval as it contains a link. Apparently Japan are buying some too 👍