'Sharkey' Ward says that the Falklands are vulnerable.
Commander Nigel 'Sharkey' Ward DSC AFC RN commanded RNAS 801 Naval Air Squadron from HMS Invincible during the Falklands War during April to June 1982, and was senior Sea Harrier adviser to the Command on the tactics, direction and progress of the air war. Commander Ward flew over sixty war missions, achieved three air-to-air kills and took part in or witnessed a total of ten kills; he was also the leading night pilot, and was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross for gallantry. Cdr. Ward's main Sea Harrier mount during the Falkands War was XZ451, which was built on 18 June 1979 and was the first RN Sea Harrier delivered. Cdr. Ward also shot down an Argentine Air Force IAI Mirage V "Dagger" in Sea Harrier FRS.1, ZA175.This from the Phoenix Think Tanks...
Stop Press: October 10th, 2010.Read the rest and get depressed.
· The Argentine navy just harassed another trawler at the limit of Falklands territorial waters, without ‘our garrison’ putting in an appearance – the Typhoons were nowhere to be seen. Is this evidence that the Argentine Navy (and hence other Argentine vessels) can come and go as they choose without detection or interception? How capable is our current surveillance of the EEZ? Are we relying on a fighter aircraft that has little or no surface surveillance capability?
· It is understood that the Nimrod MPA cannot operate from the Mount Pleasant runway because of the latter’s “uneven surface”. Our principal land-based maritime surveillance aircraft, postulated by the Royal Air Force as having a worldwide capability, appears therefore to be unsuitable for and incapable of satisfying the Falkland Islands EEZ airborne surveillance need. (Perhaps there is another explanation for this serious shortfall in land-based air power operational capability. If so, it should be explained.)
· Subject to satisfactory answers to the above questions/problems, it would appear that yet again the public and the government are being kept “in the dark” by an air force that claims better operational capability than the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm but ‘when push comes to shove’ is unable to match words with deeds.[2]
· These questions need to be answered.
Planned Argentine Military Resources
The British Government should take serious note of the major military air procurement program now underway in Argentina.
· An order for up to 128 F-15C and F-15E Strike Eagle fighters has been made from the USA with delivery due to begin in the 2017/18 timeframe . The F-15C Eagle’s passive IRST sensor system, used alone or in concert with existing F-15 sensors, provides unprecedented on-board situational awareness while detecting, identifying and engaging enemy targets at extended ranges. The IRST system’s high-angle accuracy also provides the ability to track closely-spaced targets at maximum ranges. This information can be used alone or combined with other sensor data to further enhance the pilot’s situational awareness.
· A further order for Landing Craft Air Cushion Vehicles (LCACs) – hovercraft – has been made. They are seagoing vehicles with the capacity to deliver stores and ammunition to the islands from the mainland at high speed – and remain invulnerable to attack by SSN torpedoes.
· The latest version of the Mirage F1 air to air fighter aircraft has also been ordered from France and there are amphibious warfare oriented Hind gunships in the pipeline from Russia. Hinds are combat-proven against light sea surface and land vehicles.
Such a major military air resources build-up can have only one aim in mind: retaking the Falklands. (The purchase of the LCACs in particular is a very good indicator of this.)
If a warrior is telling you that you're vulnerable, you might want to check your six.
UK, one of your warriors is trying to tell you just that. It might be wise to listen.
Note:
Interesting that hostilities (limited though they may be) have occurred as recently as late last year. A history check would lead one to note that limited activities as are described in the article led up to hostilities back in 82.
The President of Argentina has also been making noise about the sovereignty of the Falklands, probably to stoke nationalist support for another run for office, accusing Cameron of " mediocrity bordering on stupidity".
ReplyDeleteWhen did Argentina order, and have it approved, F-15C&E's? I'm not sure but I don't think the Mirage F-1 is even in production anymore either.
ReplyDeleteThat F-15 order (if its real) has been kept very quiet. Thanks US! Sell offensive hardware to a country making aggressive comments to a so called ally. Way to treat your friends.......
ReplyDeleteI don't know if they could keep such a big order like 128 planes secret these days. That would make the Argies one of the biggest users next to Japan, Saudi, and the US. Besides, do the Argies even have that kind of money to do the buy?
ReplyDeleteit matters on what they're buying....remember the US has an interest in keeping Chavez in his box in S. America. in order to do this we need to get like minded countries pretty decent airplanes to go up against SU-27's and such.
ReplyDeleteif they're buying F-15A's out the boneyards or even older F-15C's that have been refurbished then its doable.
additionally the Israeli's have a bunch of used F-15's to sell and if they're packaging it with upgrade packages from Elbit it makes even more sense.
I doubt the Israeli's would part with their F-15 these days. Not unless they were getting F-22's in return. Problem with the Argie's is that the leadership there is fairly close to Chavez. The people might not be but who asked them? If they were going to buy anything I'm betting they go for SU-27's too.
ReplyDeletefirst Israel would part with its F-15A's but thats not the point. and its just speculation on my part.
ReplyDeletethe point is this. Argentina is not in Chavez's camp and is something that the British people are being told to make them feel more comfortable about the claim on the Falklands...don't get me wrong. i believe the Falklands should stay in UK hands but the arguments that many in Britain are making to explain why there won't be war is mystifying.
argument number one is that the UK and ARgentina are too close economically for it to ever be an issue again. i think the recent statements by the Argentinian prime minister proves that to be false.
the next is that Argentina is an ally of Chavez which would assemble the entire EU and the US against Argentina again. that is also false. the UK would have to do this military action alone for one simple reason. S. America and the market that everyone is trying to get into. including the EU. France wouldn't risk it over the Falklands. Germany wouldn't. The Netherlands wouldn't ... only Spain might...and maybe Italy. but you're ignoring the most glaring part of this whole thing.
the UK has world wide aspirations and instead of looking inward to decide what needs to be done to prepare for these military contingencies is looking at others and whining about the future.
that is not how a proactive nation behaves.