SDSR 2015

[Yunglee]

Looks like the SDSR 2015 news is hotting up. The Guardian have this from Friday http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... -sdsr-2015

Mainly centred around reconnaissance aircraft and they are making the claim:

The MoD will look at a range of possible replacements for the Nimrod that will include the Airbus Military C295 and the Boeing P-8 Poseidon.

[Thunder]

Looks like the SDSR 2015 news is hotting up. The Guardian have this from Friday http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... -sdsr-2015

Mainly centred around reconnaissance aircraft and they are making the claim:

The MoD will look at a range of possible replacements for the Nimrod that will include the Airbus Military C295 and the Boeing P-8 Poseidon.

I would say that any replacement for MPA, has already been settled on.

[ColintheCaterpillar]

That was said last year though, with the Secretary of State for Defence rumoured to be very close to making a decision to acquire/buy P-8 ASAP before the election purdah period. Oddly enough, he suddenly to promoted to Foreign Sec!

I'm not sure the current SoS Is primed to make a big call to buy an expensive type without an open competition. I hope I'm wrong though.

[welshandy]

This on the BBC today

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34893614

24 F35's by 2023 on the Carriers(committed to buying 138 in the long term). Also mentions 18 for training/maintenance so is that 24 +18 = 42 by 2023??

? x MPA(type unknown)

[thorny1a]

I'd say that 138 in the long term is verrrrrrrrry long term, i.e. start replacing the older typhoons with f-35a by the late 2020's?

Time will tell as they say!

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday evening folks

[Thunder]

How many F-35 Sqds would that be in total , as I thought it was initially two and now mention of this third?

If so and with the 18 a/c for training, and basing a Sqd on 18 jets, that only comes to 72 jets, where do the remaining 66 jets go?

[Gary]

Just a quick request

Today when the SDSR is announced, rather than everyone replying to this thread can people use the specif threads for the each topic. Or this thread will become a nightmare to monitor and read. General SDSR chat in this thread


Typhoon discussion

MPA

F-35

[Harkins]

So the news so far suggests 9 P-8's to be based at Lossiemouth starting from 2020. Two more Typhoon squadrons (possibly 19 and 43 - bases unknown) through 'life extension' with no dates as yet.

Will we, as the day goes on get any further details? I'd like to hear something about air transport - will any C-130's survive seeing as the special forces are getting extra funding and these two 'new' rapid strike reaction brigades thingies will presumably need the transport to get them and their Ajax APC's into whatever theatre they're being rapidly deployed to?

And there was talk of the Sentry's getting the chop earlier in this thread. Could there be any news either way on that?

And perhaps some further detail about the fate of the Tornado fleet. As we're on the cusp of joining in in Syria, surely the Tornado will be required to soldier on longer still?

Presumably there will be some more precise information on the two carriers and the F-35's later today too?

[Surfrdan]

Two more Typhoon squadrons (possibly 19 and 43 - bases unknown)

Where did you get that from? I understood that Reserve squadrons went to the back of the queue when dishing out new assignments. Thus 21 and 23 would be the next in numerical order but I'm sure there are other factors such as historic significance.

[Harkins]

I read it on the 'other' forum. It was said with such certainty I believed it, but I confess there was no source given so I probably shouldn't have mentioned it here.

Regarding the choice of squadrons, I asked the question and was told this;

Mainly factored on squadron age and historical value. 19 Squadron being a low number, a Battle of Britain squadron and being frontline for much of it's life gives it president over, for example, 74 Squadron. When 216 Squadron was disbanded last year, they knew that the numberplate would likely never come back so the standard wasn't 'laid up' at RAF Cranwell whereas other disbanded units do, until they are stood up. There are plenty of numberplates to choose from but now with less and less fast-jet squadrons (and squadrons in general) the likelyhood of high-numbered squadrons with juicy markings (eg 74/111 etc) coming back is getting lower and lower.

[RubyRoo]

Does anyone know what time Dave will actually make the speech in the House?

[page_verify]

Wondering that too, there must be the full PDF due soon.

[thommg]

Looks like about 3:30pm - http://services.parliament.uk/calendar/

I can't imagine the document will be published Online until he sits down.

There's going to be lots of extra info info there which won't make the statement itself.

[Northolt Nobbler]

Two more Typhoon squadrons (possibly 19 and 43 - bases unknown)

Where did you get that from? I understood that Reserve squadrons went to the back of the queue when dishing out new assignments. Thus 21 and 23 would be the next in numerical order but I'm sure there are other factors such as historic significance.

Generally speaking (as the waters can get VERY muddy) when squadrons reform, the most senior ones in terms of time (ie the number of years and months the have been formed as a frontline squadron) will be the next to reform. Occasionally, the type of role for new squadrons is taken into account (Ie 99 Sqn and the C-17). Reserve squadrons DO NOT accumulate more seniority, so Nos 15 and 19 Sqn will have remained at the same seniority time for many years.

43 Sqn should be a good call while 111 is a distinct possibility or even 23 maybe in with a shout given their history as fighter unit, but this will all be decided in a room full of smoke and mirrors by people with a lot of scrambled egg on the peak of their hats.

[Rich H]

Can't really believe when listening to the PM's statement live that he started rattling on about climate change and spending millions of pounds on solar panels and alternate energy sources for third world countries. Not a lot to do with Defence of the Realm, is it? Also makes me wonder what other spurious spending is now being hidden under the catch-all of 'Defence'.