From UKNDA.org via Defense Aerospace (note the below is from a UKNDA commentary).
The Joint Harrier Force, which comprised the upgraded Harrier GR9s,was withdrawn from service and the Joint Strike Fighter order was reduced from 138 to 48.This is from an organization is that advocating for more robust UK spending on defense.
Is this a simple mistake or did they let something slip?
Time will tell.
Hi Sol,
ReplyDeleteI think that the UKNDA is mistaken with regards to the total F-35B buy.
It has been announced that the initial order will be for 48 aircraft. However, the number of record still committed to and announced to the manufacturer is 138. All MoD statements have indicated that there will be a further order after the 48. What that number will be I would not care to guess as the place within the force structure for UCAVs has still to be decided but 48 is unlikely to be the total.
I guess we will have to see what comes of programmes like this:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=znwU_4lLoGE
i received a note saying that planning is now that the RN will be the only recipient of the JSF and that 48 is the final number. the RAF will have to utilize the Typhoon in the deep strike role until the Taranis or another striker is developed.
DeleteThat is interesting and, of course, may turn out to be the case but everything I can find indicates that no decision has been taken. Nor will be before the 2015 defence review.
Deletehttp://www.parliament.uk/Templates/BriefingPapers/Pages/BPPdfDownload.aspx?bp-id=SN06278
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dsei-uk-holding-firm-on-f-35-procurement-plan-390492/
http://www.angusbatey.com/index.php?id=770&category=blog
Solomon, the UK MoD will make it's concrete decision of F-35 numbers in 2015.
ReplyDeleteUntil then, everything in conjecture.
Until now, I though the UK was only buying 48 Bs
I think, with the UK defense budget in decline, 48 is all that they could afford.
ReplyDeleteAnd if Scotland votes for independence, then they won't be able to afford that 48.
May 2013 -- DM Hammond pledged that the first 48 F-35B aircraft on order at a cost of around £100m [$160m] each would be bought to service the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers from 2020. But he would not commit to a further 90 planes, which had originally been proposed.
ReplyDeleteIt would take at least 48 to equip Britain's two planned Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers, the Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. But the latter's fate is far from certain, so that number could drop.
The rest of the UK's F-35 fleet would go towards replacing the Tornado strike fighter. With the RAF's current Typhoon developing an impressive ground attack ability, UK may go Typhoon. Saudi Arabia has just agreed on price for 72 Typhoons.
DM Hammond was supposed to have an order for 14 F-35B in hand on a visit to Washington a week or so ago, but he never showed up. He must have had another pressing engagement.
GB has gone FUBAR, british army is a joke. Its looks that they more afraid of their own people who would soon revolt against islamist hordes on their own island, and destroying their own army so islamist wouls surely win.
ReplyDeleteIts like France in WWII -- "better let nazi conquer us than let commies come to power".