CVF News

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Member for

18 years 3 months

Posts: 5,267

Fedaykin, so are you saying that CVF won't happen (at least as planned with two hulls of 65,000 t)?

I know exactly how you feel, but I think you're over-reacting.

Maybe i am, but when you boil it down it's enough to make me feel a bit glum.

Maybe i am, but when you boil it down it's enough to make me feel a bit glum.

Enlighten me! :rolleyes: Are you saying its too expensive, waste of resources, not needed or what? :confused:

FLY NAVY :cool:

Member for

17 years 11 months

Posts: 847

The problem is it's not just the escort vessels, it's the air group. Now some reports indicate the UK JSF buy will be around 80 aircraft, which means that the RAF/FAA will probably not be able to deploy two full air groups unless the intended air group is reduced significantly.

Member for

18 years 3 months

Posts: 5,267

Enlighten me! :rolleyes: Are you saying its too expensive, waste of resources, not needed or what? :confused:

FLY NAVY :cool:

No I think the carrier's are essential what makes me feel glum is the constant avoidance by the MOD of commiting to them.

Member for

19 years 4 months

Posts: 5,707

I have no problem with a countries armed forces being run down in the way in which the UK's have been and still are as long as the politicians giving the orders realise what they are doing. Unfortunately the case with the UK is that those in power over stretch the armed forces and put lives at risk just to staisfy their own egos. If you want a coastal defence force then so be it but just remember that is all it is.

The problem is it's not just the escort vessels, it's the air group. Now some reports indicate the UK JSF buy will be around 80 aircraft, which means that the RAF/FAA will probably not be able to deploy two full air groups unless the intended air group is reduced significantly.

It's my understand that the UK is going to purchase 150 F-35B's..........

No I think the carrier's are essential what makes me feel glum is the constant avoidance by the MOD of commiting to them.

Same problem here......................if the politians could just keep there nose out of our business! :mad:

Member for

18 years 1 month

Posts: 417

I have no problem with a countries armed forces being run down in the way in which the UK's have been and still are as long as the politicians giving the orders realise what they are doing. Unfortunately the case with the UK is that those in power over stretch the armed forces and put lives at risk just to staisfy their own egos. If you want a coastal defence force then so be it but just remember that is all it is.

That's exactly how I feel ... one minute they're slashing the defence budget yet again, the next they're declaring war on someone new. It's like they're trying to see how far they can go without paying before they get caught (and by caught I mean embroiled in a disaster brought about by being spread too thin).

I am sure most Americans have know idea that the US Military is "Forced" to purchase equipment that the Services don't want or need every year!!!! I have no doubt its the same the world over........ :(

Member for

17 years 10 months

Posts: 114

Latest (June) number for UK F-35's is 136.

Latest (June) number for UK F-35's is 136.

I wouldn't be surprised if that number goes up dramatically with time! Regardless, 136 F-35's is more than enough for two Carrier Airwings. Especially, considering two are rarely at sea at given time....... :rolleyes:

Member for

17 years 11 months

Posts: 847

The MoD is already softening us up for big budget cuts via off the record briefings and leaks and they're drip feeding leaks which indicate the F35 buy will be heavily cut along with a lot of other programs. With the budget pressures right across the government, the costs of Iraq and Afghanistan and various high profile programs escalating wildly there is going to be major cuts right across government IMO and defence is always a prime target when the government is looking to economise. Friends of mine still in the RAF are telling me they're now thinking the F35 buy will be a lot smaller and that 80 has been mentioned.

Friends of mine still in the RAF are telling me they're now thinking the F35 buy will be a lot smaller and that 80 has been mentioned.

The RAF would say that, because they don't want the CVF to go ahead. They'd prefer the money is spent on them and the RN become a glorified coastguard. So don't trust what you hear unless it's an official statement - everyone in the services has good cause to exaggerate.

Member for

17 years 11 months

Posts: 847

Only partly true, don't forget the F35 will also be an RAF aircraft and they themselves want the F35 badly. There are also rumours about helicopter, Eurofighter and transport numbers too if the government budget targets defence again as the easiest department to take cuts. Another factor is that the army needs quite a bit of emergency funding related to Afghanistan and Iraq, new APC's and vehicles and personal equipment etc. which is eating into the new equipment budget.

Member for

19 years 4 months

Posts: 629

I don't think the UK government can be that stupid. To cut the defence budget in the current situation is madness. Besides I thought the 1 Billion Pounds cut had been denied by Drayson.

Member for

18 years 3 months

Posts: 1,039

According to the letter Des Browne sent to the Guardian yesterday, the defence budget is increasing well above the rate of inflation. He did imply though that some budgets were having to be temporarily cut and others increased. I guess the MOD is no different to any other large organisation in that respect

Member for

17 years 11 months

Posts: 847

You also have to look at price inflation in military equipment, which has far outstripped the general inflation rate in the UK.

Only partly true, don't forget the F35 will also be an RAF aircraft and they themselves want the F35 badly.

Exactly. They want the F-35s all for themselves on top of the Typhoon. What better way to do that than to talk down CVF and F-35 numbers?

"CVF? Well it won't work because there won't be enough JSFs for it. Much better just to give them to the RAF and save the money on a pointless project. After all, these days, who needs a navy when you have an airforce?"

I don't think the UK government can be that stupid. To cut the defence budget in the current situation is madness. Besides I thought the 1 Billion Pounds cut had been denied by Drayson.

Well spending on the NHS is planned to be a lot lower than in recent years, so that should take pressure off the MoD for cuts. Also Brown has been putting a lot of stock into military projects recently, so cutting the budget would lose him the benefit of that. That doesn't mean he's going to give it a big increase, but it isn't true he hates the military and wants it massively cut - certainly not any more. If there's anyone to blame, it's Tony Blair by sending our lads off around the world without ensuring they had a proper budget increase.

Plus having Des Browne as SoS is useful, as his Treasury experience means he knows how best to manipulate the bean-counters.

Member for

19 years 4 months

Posts: 629

If there's anyone to blame, it's Tony Blair by sending our lads off around the world without ensuring they had a proper budget increase.

Agreed.