Search found 218 matches

by BB85
27 Mar 2024, 10:48
Forum: British Army
Topic: Ajax Armoured Vehicles (British Army)
Replies: 2432
Views: 526570
United Kingdom

Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicles (British Army)

Unfortunately Ajax has been built so bespoke to British army requirements it has been a total flop in the export market. Too heavy to be a scout and reconasaince vehicle but too small internally to be considered an IFV. Considering that Australia and Germany are acquiring turreted Boxer as a Scout ...
by BB85
23 Mar 2024, 08:38
Forum: British Army
Topic: Ajax Armoured Vehicles (British Army)
Replies: 2432
Views: 526570
United Kingdom

Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicles (British Army)

I thought I saw a post talking about Fox hound mark 2, maybe MRV-P will pick up again. Unfortunately Ajax has been built so bespoke to British army requirements it has been a total flop in the export market. Too heavy to be a scout and reconasaince vehicle but too small internally to be considered a...
by BB85
28 Feb 2024, 23:06
Forum: British Army
Topic: Jackal and Coyote MWMIK (Army)
Replies: 193
Views: 62177
United Kingdom

Re: Jackal and Coyote MWMIK (Army)

I can understand the benefits of an open top design in Afghanistan especially when enemy drones were less of an issue, but do these vehicles actually have a viable use case in Europe? Feels like a contract placed in order to keep a British manufacturer afloat for a few more years. What difference i...
by BB85
28 Feb 2024, 09:29
Forum: British Army
Topic: Jackal and Coyote MWMIK (Army)
Replies: 193
Views: 62177
United Kingdom

Re: Jackal and Coyote MWMIK (Army)

I can understand the benefits of an open top design in Afghanistan especially when enemy drones were less of an issue, but do these vehicles actually have a viable use case in Europe? Feels like a contract placed in order to keep a British manufacturer afloat for a few more years.
by BB85
22 Feb 2024, 04:48
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Vanguard Class Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN) (RN)
Replies: 156
Views: 82238
United Kingdom

Re: Vanguard Class Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN) (RN)

Is it unreasonable to expect a retest in the near future once the investigation has explained what went wrong on this test? We can't go another 7-8 years without a successful test fire to demonstrate the issues have been resolved when launching from a British sub.
by BB85
24 Jan 2024, 16:56
Forum: British Army
Topic: RBSL Challenger 3 (Future) Main Battle Tank (British Army)
Replies: 349
Views: 65027
United Kingdom

Re: RBSL Challenger 3 (Future) Main Battle Tank (British Army)

Interesting the new turret looks flatter and taller from the front versus the more angled previous turret. I see they have moved the front facing lights that where central previously to just above the tracks on the hull. I wonder if that has something to do with heavier armour protecting the driver....
by BB85
23 Jan 2024, 20:04
Forum: British Army
Topic: Sig / Accuracy International
Replies: 2
Views: 468
United Kingdom

Re: Sig / Accuracy International

I'm guessing Sig is gearing up to compete for an SA80 replacement offering the XM7 with some sort of UK manufacturing involved to sweeten whatever insane price it will be once ammo is factored in.
I still would have thought the Knights rifle will be favourite to replace the SA80 but what do I know.
by BB85
19 Dec 2023, 12:24
Forum: British Army
Topic: Ajax Armoured Vehicles (British Army)
Replies: 2432
Views: 526570
United Kingdom

Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicles (British Army)

I wonder if the banging the crew were complaining about was the step ladders bouncing and banging on the hull. That would be annoying.
by BB85
15 Dec 2023, 14:29
Forum: British Army
Topic: Morpheus Cancelled
Replies: 6
Views: 949
United Kingdom

Re: Morpheus Cancelled

SOTAS from Thales is used by 30 countries. How many countries use Bowman?
by BB85
15 Dec 2023, 13:16
Forum: British Army
Topic: Morpheus Cancelled
Replies: 6
Views: 949
United Kingdom

Re: Morpheus Cancelled

Flip imagine procuring a capability that already exists off the shelf rather than over complicating and specifying the functionality to the point it will be a decade (or two) old by the time it enters service.
by BB85
16 Nov 2023, 12:45
Forum: British Army
Topic: Ajax Armoured Vehicles (British Army)
Replies: 2432
Views: 526570
United Kingdom

Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicles (British Army)

For some reason I always thought the storage bins on the side opened down the way which is why there is a huge overhang. I know it's just aesthetics but always thought Ajax looked odd versus CV90 and Lynx that either don't use storage boxes on the side or have lower panels which makes them flush on ...
by BB85
13 Nov 2023, 21:09
Forum: British Army
Topic: Ground Based Air Defence
Replies: 685
Views: 191062
United Kingdom

Re: Ground Based Air Defence

Whatever happened to the turrets, were the Canons removed and handed back to the MOD with the rest of the turret scrapped by LM?

I am still hopefully they will be repurposed in an unmanned variant on boxer.
by BB85
29 Oct 2023, 21:59
Forum: British Army
Topic: Apache Attack Helicopter (British Army Air Corps)
Replies: 612
Views: 211878
United Kingdom

Re: Apache Attack Helicopter (British Army Air Corps)

Morning Tom, providing your armed forces with its primary infantry rifle domestically, is the absolute foundation of defence, the first building block of sovereign capability. There is no domestic market to support a domestic manufacturer of automatic military rifles. Even France has gone down the ...
by BB85
25 Oct 2023, 20:56
Forum: British Army
Topic: Apache Attack Helicopter (British Army Air Corps)
Replies: 612
Views: 211878
United Kingdom

Re: Apache Attack Helicopter (British Army Air Corps)

The news of this is pretty shocking, I was under the impression the US missiles where less than half the price of brimstone making it hard to justify the cost of integration.
If they are significantly more expensive, less capable and we get no workshare is criminal.
by BB85
23 Oct 2023, 14:27
Forum: British Army
Topic: Ajax Armoured Vehicles (British Army)
Replies: 2432
Views: 526570
United Kingdom

Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicles (British Army)

This article is a bit old now so not sure if there is a more up to date on on think defense
https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/british- ... lity/ajax/
But it covers most of the questions you asked about target tracking, risk detection and laser warning receivers.
by BB85
16 Oct 2023, 21:36
Forum: British Army
Topic: RBSL Challenger 3 (Future) Main Battle Tank (British Army)
Replies: 349
Views: 65027
United Kingdom

Re: RBSL Challenger 3 (Future) Main Battle Tank (British Army)

I think I read somewhere that the current transmission meant they where getting nowhere near the full 1,200 hp from the current power train so hopefully we will still be a substantial improvement.
by BB85
13 Oct 2023, 16:25
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)
Replies: 2804
Views: 763837
United Kingdom

Re: Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF)

Yes I'm wondering what France is thinking Frankly, and with respect, as a Brit who has spent the last 17 years in Belgium, France and Germany I have to intervene here and just point out how much those in the UK still misunderstand their neighbours even after everything that has happened and make th...
by BB85
06 Oct 2023, 10:21
Forum: British Army
Topic: Ground Based Air Defence
Replies: 685
Views: 191062
United Kingdom

Re: Ground Based Air Defence

How many Skysabre batteries did the army order again, was it 24? It's interesting that when Ukraine is at war we are able to produce this Supacat solution launching Asraam at extremely short notice and produce a heck of a lot more than 24 if we need to. We have likely produced more NLAW missiles in ...
by BB85
05 Oct 2023, 19:10
Forum: British Army
Topic: Section Infantry Weapons
Replies: 1476
Views: 431975
United Kingdom

Re: Section Infantry Weapons

Was the issue with 3 round burst it's reliability? If army doctrine was to never use the fully automatic mode anyway I can understand why 3 round burst would be considered an option as you get the benefit of landing 3 rounds on the enemy before the recoil and muzzle rise takes the aim off target and...
by BB85
02 Oct 2023, 16:10
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper/Protector (UCAV) (RAF)
Replies: 289
Views: 132837
United Kingdom

Re: General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper/Protector (UCAV) (RAF)

A) So what is it's outdated, do we just scrap everything the second something more up to date comes along? The CVRT has been outdated for at least 30 years now yet it's still in service. B) Why does it need to be able to fly all over the UK to remain in service? C) Again not a reason to scrap the re...
by BB85
02 Oct 2023, 10:28
Forum: British Army
Topic: Section Infantry Weapons
Replies: 1476
Views: 431975
United Kingdom

Re: Section Infantry Weapons

Are the A3 receivers, Barrels and all other components manufactured by HK in the UK? If so there is a chance the 416 could be license produced in the UK.

I can't see anyone else setting up manufacturing facilities in the UK for an order of less than 100k rifles.
by BB85
30 Sep 2023, 06:30
Forum: British Army
Topic: Section Infantry Weapons
Replies: 1476
Views: 431975
United Kingdom

Re: Section Infantry Weapons

The L85A3 has plenty of life in it, the new HK bodies (5,000 ordered at a time), plus the ongoing manufacturing of replacement bolt groups, barrel and gas parts will keep the A3 viable for many years to come. There is no way ordering 5,000 L85A3 bodies, barrels and bolts from HK makes any kind of e...
by BB85
25 Sep 2023, 18:20
Forum: British Army
Topic: Section Infantry Weapons
Replies: 1476
Views: 431975
United Kingdom

Re: Section Infantry Weapons

I didn't pick up on the Royal Marines aspect of the purchase initially. I know the RM are looking to separate themselves somewhat from the army after effectively being treated like an elite infantry regiment in Iraq and Afghanistan. Maybe that will reduce the logistics issues a bit. On the other han...
by BB85
22 Sep 2023, 15:52
Forum: British Army
Topic: Section Infantry Weapons
Replies: 1476
Views: 431975
United Kingdom

Re: Section Infantry Weapons

It's a drain on logistics is the obvious reason why.
He wasn't criticising the round itself.
If the LMG's are equipped with 7.62 what is going to happen when the designated marksman needs resupplied with 6.5 and all he can find is crates of 7.62?
by BB85
22 Sep 2023, 13:54
Forum: British Army
Topic: Ajax Armoured Vehicles (British Army)
Replies: 2432
Views: 526570
United Kingdom

Re: Ajax Armoured Vehicles (British Army)

This is interesting, a lot of people think Ajax is too big for Recon. People have mentioned Jaguar as an other way of doing things....turns out that Jaguar is a bit of a monster as well... https://twitter.com/TotherChris?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor This is news to people?...