UK Defence Forum

Ok, so the MoD will supposedly get additional 16 bln. of pounds to spend in next four years. So, that's 4 bln. per year.
So, let's say that actual budget for buying is 1/3 of that money (the rest is for R&D, better payes, recruitment, covering black holes in MoD finances etc. ) and that every service gets 1/4 od money (with 1/4 for space, cyber and other forces), that's about additional 350 mil. pounds to spend in each year up to 2024.

What would you do with that money?

If this is the wrong plave for this thread, please mods move it where it belongs...

abc123 wrote:What would you do with that money?

Complete the procurement that’s already on the table.

Build a QE-sized dry dock in Portsmouth.

SKB wrote:Build a QE-sized dry dock in Portsmouth.

Why it wont be used much.

How about using it to build a 3rd QEC!

Sorry, I had no time to write my own proposal. RL issues.

mr.fred wrote:Complete the procurement that’s already on the table.

Should I add "Properly" so the kit is fit for purpose.

Lord Jim wrote:

mr.fred wrote:Complete the procurement that’s already on the table.

Should I add "Properly" so the kit is fit for purpose.

Definitly.
So, let's say: buying 8 sets of NSMs for T26 and 5 sets for T31. That's about 130 missiles. Let's say the price is about 3 mln. USD per missile, that's about 400 mil. USD. That leaves us with about 80 mil. to spare in the first year: let's say 2 sets of towed sonar for T31s. ( I presume that's not much more expencive than 40 mil. USD per set? )

Second year: Another 3 sets for say 150 mil. USD. That means we have about 330 mil. USD left. Maybe use them to buy ASROC missiles for T26. Now, I don't know what's the cost of them, but let's say 4-5 mil. USD per piece. That means about 65 missiles, or about 6-7 for each frigate. Not much, but enough for starters.

Third year: buying additional two P-8 Poseidons.

Fourth year: buying additional one P-8 for about 250 mil. USD and TLAM missiles ( for T26 ) for about 200 mil. USD, that's about 80 missiles- enough for about 8 missiles per ship.

And that's it for the RN.

RAF:

First year: fitting at least 7-8 A330 with boom refueling system. 480 mil. USD should be enough.

Second year: buying 4-5 additional F-35B.

Third year: buying additional 4-5 F-35B.

Fourth year: buying additional 4-5 F-35B.

Army:

Where to start?

I forgot some ASW weapon for T31, but some torpedo launchers and light torpedos shouldn't be too expencive. I wonder could a Mk41 with ASROCs could be fitted to T31?

Sort out all the stuff we've got now first. Get the spares, support and training on the equipment that's in service now.

There's kit not being used as it should because of the above issues. Then there's the accommodation, both domestic and technical, we've still got loads of buildings from ww2 and earlier. Crap heating, leaking buildings are common across the MoD, houses with decades old kitchens and bathrooms etc the list goes on.

Even things like training capacity, an example, last time I was involved with driving courses, it was nearly a year to get people through a basic car licence.

topman wrote:
Even things like training capacity, an example, last time I was involved with driving courses, it was nearly a year to get people through a basic car licence.

topman wrote: get people through a basic car licence.

Took me 3-4 weeks in 1970 at RAF St Athan in a Morris Traveller, then after passing did a week for Airfield driving in a Land Rover.

Shephard has hidden the punch line - whether this is something in the interim, or about a long wait for the joint european medium helo - behind the paywall:

The UK MoD will consider replacing the RAF's Puma helicopter fleet as part of Integrated Review plans;

The UK MoD will assess the possibility of finding a successor to the RAF’s Puma HC2 medium support helicopter fleet as part of the forthcoming Integrated Review

How much for a couple of dozen?

bobp wrote:

topman wrote: get people through a basic car licence.

Took me 3-4 weeks in 1970 at RAF St Athan in a Morris Traveller, then after passing did a week for Airfield driving in a Land Rover.

It's not so much the length of the course, it's the paperwork to justify it then all the theory practice then the theory test itself. Only then can you be put on the waiting list to go to Leconfield, which is long.

topman wrote:It's not so much the length of the course, it's the paperwork to justify it then all the theory practice then the theory test itself. Only then can you be put on the waiting list to go to Leconfield, which is long.

Ok we did theory and practical at St Athans, half a day in classroom and half behind the wheel.

Is Leconfield an Army Camp now?

It's not so much the length of the course, it's the whole process, it takes forever. Mainly the waiting lists.

Yes, has been for years. Maybe 20 years or more?


Edit, just looked it up. Transferred to the army in 1977.

topman wrote:Transferred to the army in 1977.

Wow time flies by.