Britain to increase defence spending to $65.1 billion

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Britain is increasing its defense spending by $6.8 billion (£3.7 billion) over the next three years to a total of $65.1 billion (£35.2 billion), the longest period of sustained real growth in planned defence spending for over 20 years. Additional resources are being made available to modernise the UK Armed Forces to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Modernisation of UK Armed Forces will mean:

a Future Army Structure better suited to concurrent medium and small scale operations;

a Royal Navy expeditionary capability centred around new larger aircraft carriers, new amphibious shipping and new Type 45 destroyers;

a Royal Air Force equipped with modern, highly capable multi-role aircraft, increasingly able to exploit networked capabilities and equipped with a range of modern stand-off, precision weapons.

Britain's new plans 'Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities' will continue the shift in emphasis away from measuring capability in terms of numbers of ships, tanks and aircraft and towards the effective delivery of military assets.

Overall, the planned developments will mean that the already impressive capability of UK Armed Forces will continue to improve. The British military will be better organized, equipped and trained to deal successfully with the threats they are likely to face in the future. These changes are a concrete example of the capabilities-led restructuring Britain has proposed for NATO and the EU.


britainusa.com

 

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Production begins on second 'next-generation' destroyer for British Royal Navy
Ministry of Defence, 26 August 2004


First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Alan West today officially launched production of the second Type 45 Anti-Air Warfare Destroyer at BAE Systems' shipyard at Govan in Glasgow, Scotland.

Admiral West signaled the start of production by cutting the first sheet of steel for HMS Dauntless, the second of six ships ordered by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to be built by BAE Systems on the River Clyde and by VT Group at Portsmouth, England.

Admiral West said: "This is a really momentous occasion, because the steel I am cutting today officially starts the building of a ship which will form part of the most advanced air destroyer fleet in the world, and will provide a crucial capability for our powerful and modern Royal Navy.

"It's also not just about ships, it's about people. Clearly the MOD's UK shipbuilding program is sustaining hundreds of jobs in Scotland, and creating tremendous opportunities for the 100 new apprentices starting work here today. These men and women are making a major and worthwhile contribution to Defense in the UK and throughout the world, whilst continuing the proud history of ship-building on the Clyde for many years to come. I wish them the very best."



At around 7,350 tonnes in weight and over 150 metres long, the Type 45s will be the biggest and most powerful air defense destroyers ever built for the Royal Navy. The current contract, with BAE Systems as the Prime Contractor, is for six ships.

The Type 45 will be equipped with the world-leading Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS), and will provide a huge advance in technology when it enters service later in the decade.

Minister for Defence Procurement, Lord Bach said: "It is extremely satisfying that production of the second-of-class is now underway. The Type 45 will give our forces a truly world-class destroyer, complete with one of the most advanced air defense systems available.

"There is no doubt this new class of Destroyer will set new standards. The Type 45 represents a 21st Century response to the most sophisticated threats that might face UK or Allied ships in the years to come.

"When combined with the new aircraft carriers, our new attack submarines, and a range of other new amphibious vessels currently under construction, this demonstrates our firm commitment to maintaining and enhancing our maritime capabilities. This programme of new warship construction is the largest in the country for years and is creating and sustaining large numbers of jobs at shipyards across the UK."

The current forecast cost of the six ships is $9.9 billion (£5.5bn) and their construction is expected to sustain around 2,000 jobs on the Clyde and around 650 at Vosper Thornycroft in Portsmouth. In addition, many other UK companies are benefiting from work on the program, including over 30 who are sub-contracted to the prime contractor.


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1. BAE SYSTEMS Electronics is the prime contractor for the delivery of the first six Type 45 Destroyers. Vosper Thornycroft at Portsmouth and BAE SYSTEMS Sea Systems Group will both build and outfit substantial sections of the ships.

2. The Type 45 Destroyer will replace the capability currently provided by the T42. The first of class ship is planned to enter service later in the decade.

3. The class is to be known as the 'D' Class. HMS Daring, HMS Dauntless, HMS Diamond, HMS Defender, HMS Dragon and HMS Duncan have been announced as the names of the first six ships.

4. All ships will be equipped with the world-beating Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS), which is designed to deal with multiple attacks by anti-ship missiles. It will be powered by the WR21 Gas Turbine and will reach speeds of up to 29 knots.

5. The current contract with BAE SYSTEMS is for the first six ships of a class of eight.

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: Britain to increase d

Hey, maybe Canada can buy their old boats. ;-)

 

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T45 Merlin

An impression of a Merlin helicopter landing on the flight deck of the new T45 Air Defence Destroyer
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Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF)
Following a requirement stated in the Strategic Defence Review for a new larger class of aircraft carrier, as a replacement for the three existing Invincible class ships, the CVF was conceived.

In January 2003, the Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon announced that the Royal Navy's new generation of aircraft carriers will be designed and built by an alliance between the Ministry of Defence and BAE Systems/Thales UK.

The two vessels, will be the largest and most powerful surface warships ever built in the UK. The reduction in hull numbers is to be achieved through modern build and support techniques, which will dispense with the need for long refit periods and will allow required availability to be achieved from only 2 hulls.

CVF will be a Joint Defence Asset, and will focus specifically on Joint Force 2000 enabling operations from forces of all 3 services to contribute to sea, land and air battles. Lessons learnt from the successful build and early operating experience of HMS Ocean will be incorporated in the CVF programme.

The ships will be designed and built entirely in the United Kingdom, with shipyards at Babcock BES at Rosyth in Scotland, BAE Systems on the Clyde, Swan Hunter in the North East and Vosper Thorneycroft at Portsmouth potentially playing key roles, creating or sustaining around 10,000 jobs in the United Kingdom.

'CVF will be the principal platform for the RN/RAF Future Joint Combat Aircraft (FJCA) which will replace RN and RAF Harriers; the FJCA role will be filled by the STOVL (short take off vertical landing) variant of the Lockheed Martin F35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). The CVF Carrier Air Group (CAG) will also include the Maritime Airborne Surveillance & Control system to provide sensor coverage against air and surface threats, together with command and control for other air operations. CVF will be capable of supporting the operation of helicopters in a wide variety of roles that could include anti-submarine warfare, attack and support.

In order to maximise the flexibility that CVF can offer over its potential 50 year service life, the carriers will be built to an innovative adaptable design. Although CV-based, the ships will initially be fitted with a ramp for STOVL operations. Post JSF, the design will be capable of modification to operate aircraft requiring a catapult launch and arrested recovery.

Although the final dimensions of CVF have yet to be confirmed, initial indications suggest that the carriers could be the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy. Detailed work on the design is ongoing and the size and shape of the ships should be confirmed during 2004.

The base port will be Portsmouth, Hampshire.

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And the Ministry of Defence is also looking at having this futuristic submarine built for the Royal Navy -

Directional Waterjet Propulsion Pods
Ultra-Quiet directable podded water jet propulsion units rotate at the root to provide vectored directional thrust and unparalled high/low speed manoeuvrability in conjunction with single lower rudder for stability and steering.

Sensor Arrays
Ultra-Sophisticated all-round sonar coverage achieved through platypus bow sonar and after fin arrays.

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Ok. I will stop trying to impress people, now. :lol: