So, General (BOWMAN) Dynamics have been named as preferred bidder for the demonstration phase of the Specialist Vehicle Recce Block 1. The Common Base Platform will also form the basis for a range of other variants.
Conveniently forgetting the last 20 years of MoD bungling, Chief of Defence Material, Sir Kevin O’Donoghue, commented on the MoD’s performance;
To have reached this point in a complex programme so soon after the assessment phase began in summer 2008 reflects highly on the Defence Equipment and Support staff involved
It may well do but please let’s stop blowing smoke up our frocks and suggesting that this is anything but a rushed, back to the wall decision, based on running out of time due to what is possibly one of the most inept programmes in the MoD’s sorry history.
Making such a significant decision so close to an election and Strategic Defence Review is ridiculous. Another few months will not make any difference in the grand scheme of things.
At least it looks like the term FRES has been quietly dropped, perhaps an MP might table a question to inquire about the total cost of the programme, including delays and UOR’s as a result.
The vehicles will enter service, as long as the assessment phase goes according to plan, some time in 2015. Given that GD have yet to actually produce the Scout variant, unlike BAe, does anyone on this planet have any confidence that this date will actually materialise.
No word on contract value yet either, expect this to leak out once contracts have been placed but it is expected to be in the order of £2billion, or about £33 million a piece, although this figure will also include various additions such as logistics, training and other support elements.
We should remain hopeful, at least a decision has been made and the vehicle may well turn out to be the best option.
In other spending news, the MoD has also agreed to buy 3 Rivet Joint aircraft to replace the Nimrod R1’s which are being withdrawn from service in, 2011, in fact 1 has already been withdrawn. The R1 and 51 Squadron were a serious ‘go to’ capability that the UK led the world in.
Again, with no credible alternative the MoD has been forced to buy ‘the last chicken in the shop’ because there was no coherent or credible replacement for an aircraft that’s almost exactly as old as CVR(T)
Before the end of the week, expect more, possibly for the next phase of the Future Surface Combatant.
Getting these orders in before the election sets the Conservatives up, should they win the next election, for a honeymoon period kicking from a newly in opposition Labour party, should they chose to cancel post SDR.
It totally compromises the next strategic defence review and smacks of politics, rather than sane and sensible equipment planning.
Perhaps we should be grateful for at least some investment. Normally, we would be singing from the rooftops but can’t help feeling that the armed forces are being used for political gain.
Some things change, some things stay the same.
PS
This was out 300th post.
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8 Comments
i’m going way off track here but it’s a sort of response to the world leader thing, the good ol’ US are trying to stitch airbus and the govt over loans to airbus for the a350 xwb, there is a version of this aircraft that can fly non stop london to sydney why aren’t we saying to airbus part of that “loan” goes towards a feasibility study for that shiny aircraft to replace our nimrods i’ve worked in aviation (military) and i know it’s easier to build rather than to convert it would be a class leader, wide body loads of space for various nasty spoil your day kit, quiet engines for the noise police i could go on but i’ll let admin do the research for his post(lol only joking admin). and we could stick the v’s up at the yanks
ps really going off topic here any old vevicles coming back from afghan put water cannons on and sort these tossers that keep going on marches
Can I refer the honourable gentleman to my previous post :D
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2009/11/fdr-intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance/
“we could stick the v’s up at the yanks” No worries that bit is already taken care of :-) Even the MR2 was a good aircraft with excellent equipment and the US knew it. Last day of Nimrod MR2 flying is March 31st probably going to be a Diamond of one :’(
As for converting the A350XWB to a Maritime patrol Aircraft I can only cringe it would be a mess I think to say the least opening a Nimrod MRA4 line would be in line with that. We already make most of the MRA4 airframe as new so going that extra little bit would get shiny all new aircraft to ensure a new fleet. We could also replace the R1 nimrods and maybe ask the Israelis to integrate the CAEW system into the aircraft but that is maybe taking things a bit far as it would be tricky politically. Oh! and we might still sell some yet in competition against the P-8 depending on how flying a modern commercial aircraft down low fares.
Admin this does indeed seem like a stitch up for a future Tory Government but at least those with functioning brain cells should be able to spot the hypocrisy being spouted by the Labour Party. Hopefully the next SDR is done well enough that it makes sense and I hope it is reasonably transparent so people like you and possibly me can have a good look and make an analysis of it making our own judgements.
I disagree about the rivet joint aircraft, if we’re to get a similar fit to the US, then they should be a step up in performance as I believe their signals gear is newer.
Yes the aircraft is old but it will have spares commonality with our E-3Ds and the hard part with these types of assets is integrating the kit, a task that’s already done.
I cite the example of the Nimrod AEW, but correct me if I’m wrong….
From what I am aware the R1’s systems are not that old and they have some very modern equipment installed as they had a extensive update at some point and are always being maintained. The R1’s are usually very secretive so it’s not so obvious when they get new equipment or when they get things done but with the Aircrafts capabilities in demand they would have been looked after better than their siblings. So basically I don’t agree that the RC-135’s will be any better in fact I would personally say they are worse but I see it as a step along to dumping the need for such aircraft all together. Odd comment but think about it if we get the aircraft we could start embedding more with the USAF and then progress from there such as saying “oh we can just borrow one of theirs” or something like that.
I’m not sure about the spares point but the E-3D has different engines and I would imagine other differences the conversion of the MRA4 test aircraft into R1 replacements would have far greater commonality. Or better yet buy more Bombardier Global Express Jets and convert them into R1 replacements the size difference isn’t that much and it would have commonality with the Sentinel R1 in service. Apparently Raytheon or whoever wants to do something like this so that they can have that product or Biz jet conversion experience on their books to sell and we could do a deal to get a cut on future sales if it happens. All the Electronic intelligence gathering (and possibly attack) is a massive part of the future of War or Warfare so an aircraft so equipped at an affordable price should sell (competition from IAI though).
[...] Quick, Spend It Now | Think Defence [...]
“Perhaps we should be grateful for at least some investment. Normally, we would be singing from the rooftops but can’t help feeling that the armed forces are being used for political gain.”
Investment?
What Investment?
This is a spending commitment, its not a promise of increased funding.
Its just politics and its happening in every field.
Massive orders are being signed, some are supply contracts for as long as 20 years.
There just trying to make the Tories “cut” loads of fantasy projects for when they’re in opposition, or even better, keep the projects, so Labour will be in power even when the Tories are in government.
Surely, as we only need (or are going to get), 3 aircraft, buying Rivet Joint is a good idea? I remember my time as a Spec Op on 51 sqn. The equipment down the back was a mixture. There was clunky British kit and smooth American kit; the American kit was WW2 stuff and this was 1963. So, Rivet Joint, if full of the latest American kit would be nice for 51 Sqn.