I3BrigPvSk
The Viking
Back then the UK used the FN-FAL, right? I think the Canadians were using it too, so if Belgium refused to sell the ammunition to these assault rifles; the British might purchase the ammunition from Canada.
What If: Eurofighter and JSF cancelled
Back then the UK used the FN-FAL, right? I think the Canadians were using it too, so if Belgium refused to sell the ammunition to these assault rifles; the British might purchase the ammunition from Canada.
BritinBritain
Per Ardua Ad Astra
I believe it was larger calibre ammunition Belgium wouldn't supply, Radway and other UK factories in UK produced small arms ammunition by the millions, so that was not the problem. I can't exactly remember but I believe it was the US supplied us with what we needed.
I3BrigPvSk
The Viking
I heard/read the British Intelligence tried to buy every Exocet missile on the black market, if they couldn't, the Intelligence destroyed them, meanwhile the British Government tried to convince France to not sell them to Argentina. The US even provided the UK with satellite pictures and all the US known about Argentina
BritinBritain
Per Ardua Ad Astra
From what I understand the Falklands war put the US in a very awkward position, as the US were allies of both Britain and Argentina.
I3BrigPvSk
The Viking
I will take a plunge into the Falklands War; the last documentary I watched about it was the 20th Century Battlefield. A father and son thing, their last name is Snow, I think. The son has a TV show called Battle castle going on right now (Discovery Channel)
If I remember correctly; India faced a lot of problems to get spare parts and ammunition after they purchase the howitzer 77 from Sweden, the Swedish left-wing government disliked India’s conflict with Pakistan.
BritinBritain
Per Ardua Ad Astra
I've never heard of a TV show called Battle castle.
This is the problem with buying military hardware from another country. I remember Britain bought a load of 22 rimfire ammunition from India years ago because it was cheaper then the British manufactured, most of it misfired.
I3BrigPvSk
The Viking
Battle Castle is on History Channel, my bad, sorry about that. I add the trailer for it. Dan Snow is traveling around and visiting old castles in Europe and one in the Middle East, how they were built and what happened to them. Interesting for people into that kind of history.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GosN_DWuQx8"]Battle Castle.TV: Series Trailer with Dan Snow now airing on History TV in Canada - YouTube[/ame]
The Swedish affair with the howitzer deal to India was a political bomb, when the Swedish government refused to sell spare parts, new howitzers, and ammunition. The arm manufactory (Bofors) sold the Indians things under the table, but a whistleblower exposed to whole thing.
BritinBritain
Per Ardua Ad Astra
That seems strange as Bofors was taken over by BAE a massive British arms manufacturing company, it even supplies the aft fuselage, tails, fins, electronic warfare system, and various other sub-systems for the F-35 Lightning II.
I3BrigPvSk
The Viking
The whole arm manufacture sector is a very complex thing to figure out, who owns what. The risk for similar events as what Belgium did is perhaps lesser today. The thinking behind this is to get the European arm manufactures to be one, more or less. Countries are so dependent on to get what they need, for the European battle groups, the Petersberg's tasks etc. So if one doesn't want to do something, that country might lose the supplies for their own forces.
BritinBritain
Per Ardua Ad Astra
I agree totally, but do yourself a favour and check out the BAE website and see what they are up to, what they produce and where, I was amazed. They even took over Denel here in South Africa.
I3BrigPvSk
The Viking
I checked their website and what they are doing. They are everywhere
EF2000 and F-35 will not be cancelled. For NATO especially UK, EF2000 will be used primarily for common air to air and air to ground sorties where stealth not required but weapons count.
F-35A will be for stealth sorties:
1) hitting vital targets such as C&C HQ, GCI radar, SAM sites, supply lines, storages, etc behind enemy lines
2) served in most frontal lines ahead EF2000 to attack the possible threat such as Su-27SM, Su-30MK and Su-35BM from behind while EF2000 will finish off the rest with long range Meteor.
F-35B will be used mainly for close air support, most likely to be fitted with external ordnance on under wing pylons supporting ground troops attacking armored columns and invading tanks alongside attack helicopters..
For US, the F-35A/B/C will replace the F-16 and F/A-18 phase by phase for all sorties. Probably with variants carrying weapons externally where stealth is less required. It'll forgo stealth but will appear as low RCS on radar. The stealth variant will destroy all high potential threat first before the low RCS variants carrying ordnance externally are deployed.
If LM tried to cut throat with excessive pricing, the US Congress and MOD could always count on Boeing with Mc'D DNA partnered with Northrop/Grumman to develop their counterpart such as F-32 that will sell cheaper probably better with their much experience in building fighters.
F-35A will be for stealth sorties:
1) hitting vital targets such as C&C HQ, GCI radar, SAM sites, supply lines, storages, etc behind enemy lines
2) served in most frontal lines ahead EF2000 to attack the possible threat such as Su-27SM, Su-30MK and Su-35BM from behind while EF2000 will finish off the rest with long range Meteor.
F-35B will be used mainly for close air support, most likely to be fitted with external ordnance on under wing pylons supporting ground troops attacking armored columns and invading tanks alongside attack helicopters..
For US, the F-35A/B/C will replace the F-16 and F/A-18 phase by phase for all sorties. Probably with variants carrying weapons externally where stealth is less required. It'll forgo stealth but will appear as low RCS on radar. The stealth variant will destroy all high potential threat first before the low RCS variants carrying ordnance externally are deployed.
If LM tried to cut throat with excessive pricing, the US Congress and MOD could always count on Boeing with Mc'D DNA partnered with Northrop/Grumman to develop their counterpart such as F-32 that will sell cheaper probably better with their much experience in building fighters.
Don't forget the Lancaster for when the Tornadoes retire.
HindStrike
Active member
I was asking if they had been cancelled early in development, not currently.
elpha01
New Member
If the F-35 is cancelled, UK could change his aircraft carrier program by buying Rafale M (who are operational). France talked with UK to make a french new aircraft carrier inspired by the new helizabeth class who can carrys Rafale M. There are an heavy partnerships between these two navys. May be that UK can build a different aircraft carrier compatible to Rafale M until devellop a new jets fighter who could be operational later.
Capt Frogman
Brit Pack (Troop Commander)
Never going to happen, especially as the new carriers are already being built.
Plus we have no more money available... :evil:
elpha01
New Member
No more money avaible? But what if the cost of the F-35 would increase again? And does UK will build a second AC?
Capt Frogman
Brit Pack (Troop Commander)
We're building 2 new AC's.
Yes, no more money. As it is, we're cutting our armed forces (navy, army, marines and airforce) right back.
BritinBritain
Per Ardua Ad Astra
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-fly-NEW-aircraft-carriers-cutbacks-bite.html
Britain will be forced to borrow U.S. warplanes to fly from the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers because of defence cuts, the Daily Mail can reveal.
The Navy's Harrier Jump Jets - the aircraft that won renown in the Falklands conflict - are to be retired early leaving the two new carriers with no aircraft when they come into service.
Under the plans, the U.S. Marines would be invited to fly from the British carriers in joint operations and the Navy is also examining the prospect of leasing aircraft from the Americans.
Major costs savings are necessary because the Treasury budget for the carriers only covers the costs of building an empty shell - leaving no money for the aircraft to fly from them.
A senior military source said: 'The U.S. Marines have the aircraft. Their aircraft would fly from the British carriers. Or we could borrow some from them.
'The Treasury are happy to pay for the carriers but there's an issue over the cost of the aircraft.'
Are they ****ing stupid, what good is a carrier without aircraft. The stupidity of the British government knows no bounds.
Read the rest of the article, I am astonished beyond words.
Britain will be forced to borrow U.S. warplanes to fly from the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers because of defence cuts, the Daily Mail can reveal.
The Navy's Harrier Jump Jets - the aircraft that won renown in the Falklands conflict - are to be retired early leaving the two new carriers with no aircraft when they come into service.
Under the plans, the U.S. Marines would be invited to fly from the British carriers in joint operations and the Navy is also examining the prospect of leasing aircraft from the Americans.
Major costs savings are necessary because the Treasury budget for the carriers only covers the costs of building an empty shell - leaving no money for the aircraft to fly from them.
A senior military source said: 'The U.S. Marines have the aircraft. Their aircraft would fly from the British carriers. Or we could borrow some from them.
'The Treasury are happy to pay for the carriers but there's an issue over the cost of the aircraft.'
Are they ****ing stupid, what good is a carrier without aircraft. The stupidity of the British government knows no bounds.
Read the rest of the article, I am astonished beyond words.
