🇬🇧 UK completes initial F-35B batch as future plans remain unclear

 

The United Kingdom has taken delivery of the final F-35B Lightning II from its initial 48-aircraft order, marking the completion of the programme’s first acquisition phase.

In practice, the fleet stands at 47 aircraft, following the loss of one airframe during a 2021 incident involving the HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The aircraft are jointly operated by the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, primarily through 617 Squadron based at RAF Marham. This joint model underpins both land-based and carrier operations.

Recent deliveries have been made in the F-35’s Technical Refresh 3 (TR-3) configuration, which has yet to achieve full operational certification, leaving part of the fleet not fully cleared for combat use.

Operationally, the aircraft are already in active use. A contingent is currently deployed to RAF Akrotiri, where they have been involved in defensive missions across the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. These include air defence tasks over Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates amid heightened regional tensions. 

Beyond this milestone, the next phase of the programme remains undefined. The UK’s long-delayed Defence Investment Plan is expected to clarify future procurement.

Current planning, however, indicates a shift. The next tranche—originally expected to consist of 27 additional F-35Bs—is being revised to include a mixed fleet, with 12 F-35A Lightning II for the RAF. These aircraft are intended to restore the UK’s nuclear delivery capability within NATO frameworks.

While the UK maintains a long-term requirement for up to 138 aircraft, no clear timeline or firm commitment exists for reaching that figure. The programme has therefore entered a transition phase, with key structural decisions still pending.

US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets, operating from the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower, successfully intercepted and neutralized a Houthi rebel attack in the Red Sea.

On Wednesday 10th, a total of 18 drones, two cruise missiles, and an anti-ship missile were downed by the F/A-18 Super Hornets from the Dwight D. Eisenhower, alongside the destroyers Gravely, Mason, Laboon, and the British warship HMS Diamond. The Houthi rebels, based in Yemen, targeted ships in the Red Sea with this barrage, although no damage was reported.

This incident marks the 26th attack by Houthi rebels on commercial shipping routes in the Red Sea since November 19, according to the US Central Command. The attack occurred off the Yemeni port cities of Hodeida and Mokha. Vessels in the area were cautioned to proceed at maximum speed and transit with caution, reporting any suspicious activity, as advised by the UK Marine Trade Operations.

While the Houthi rebels did not formally claim responsibility for the attacks, anonymous Houthi military officials indicated that their forces had "targeted a ship linked to Israel in the Red Sea."

These assaults have consistently targeted ships in the Red Sea, a critical passage connecting the Middle East and Asia to Europe via the Suez Canal, including the narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The strait, only 29 kilometers wide at its narrowest point, handles a substantial portion of global maritime trade, with nearly 10% of all oil traded at sea passing through it, representing an estimated $1 trillion in goods annually.

To counter these attacks, a US-led coalition of nations has been actively patrolling the Red Sea. Despite warnings from the US, there has been no widespread retaliatory strike, although American troops were involved in a previous incident where Houthi vessels were sunk, and 10 rebel fighters were killed.

Simultaneously, a tentative cease-fire between the Houthi rebels and a Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s exiled government has held for months. The concern now is that any escalation in sea conflict or potential reprisal from Western forces could reignite tensions in Yemen, the poorest nation in the Arab world, and jeopardize the fragile cease-fire.

The Decline of the Royal Navy: Personnel Shortage Prompts LinkedIn Recruitment, Forcing Decommissioning of 2 Escort Frigates and Royal Marines' Landing Ships

Due to an apparent lack of candidates for the position, the British Royal Navy has posted a job opening for candidates to serve as Rear Admiral and Submarine Director through the LinkedIn social network. Rear Admiral Simon Asquith currently holds the role of Submarine Director in the Royal Navy, serving since April 2022, but there is speculation that he might soon be transferred to different duties. This possible transfer is believed to be the reason for the search for his replacement.

Although the Royal Navy has previously used social media, especially LinkedIn, for recruiting specialists in different fields, it's noteworthy that they're using this platform to seek candidates for such an important position, even with the requirement that applicants must have served in the regular forces or be a reservist.

The Submarine Director is responsible for various critical aspects and programs, including the Dreadnought program, which replaces the four nuclear-powered ballistic submarines of the Vanguard class, and overseeing the seven Astute-class nuclear attack submarines. In addition, involvement in the AUKUS alliance with Australia is also part of the duties associated with this role.

The original post specifies: "The Royal Navy is recruiting a Submarine Director, responsible for highly classified stealth, elite operations, and Trident, our nuclear deterrence force. Candidates must be members of the reserves or have served in the regular forces. Do you know someone who is prepared?"

Several media outlets report a recruitment crisis in the UK Armed Forces, particularly in the Royal Navy. This, along with questions about this branch's capability to find replacements for important positions, appears to be the reason for the LinkedIn posting. The recruitment issue has reached new levels recently with the confirmation that two Type 23 frigates will be decommissioned for these reasons.

During 2024, the British Royal Navy is expected to decommission two of its Type 23 frigates. This drastic decision comes amid a personnel shortage crisis, which has persisted over the past few years and directly affects the availability of the UK Armed Forces to fulfill their operational obligations.

According to 'The Telegraph,' quoting sources from the Ministry of Defence, the decommissioning of the Type 23 frigates is due to a necessary reallocation of resources. It is anticipated that the personnel involved in this decision will be assigned to the initial stages of training to crew the Type 26 frigates.

The vessels to be decommissioned are the HMS Westminster and HMS Argyll. Both units have undergone various maintenance and modernization works in recent years, which has prompted criticism for the decision to decommission them given the investment made.

In the case of the HMS Argyll, it is one of the oldest frigates in the Royal Navy, having entered service in 1991. The recent works on the ship were part of the LIFEX program (Post-life Extension Program), intended to extend the life of Type 23 frigates. The program includes a review of the hull and structure of the frigates, along with design changes to include new capabilities. Due to the vessel's age, the works carried out on the HMS Argyll were not as extensive.

Additionally, the HMS Westminster was also undergoing maintenance, refurbishment, and modernization under the LIVEX program. However, in mid-2023, it was reported that the initiative would be put on hold due to the vessel's wear and condition.

Although the Royal Navy had already established a replacement schedule for both frigates, the decision to expedite their retirement will directly impact the escort fleet, a force already facing a complicated situation due to the low availability of some units for technical reasons.

The first of the new Type 26 frigates, HMS Glasgow, is only expected to be available in 2028, with the second unit being incorporated toward the end of the decade, provided the program progresses without significant issues.

A Ministry of Defence source justified to 'The Telegraph' the decision to decommission the HMS Westminster and HMS Argyll, stating it "will allow the Royal Navy to update itself to become a modern, high-tech combat force."

The shortage of personnel in the British Armed Forces, particularly the Royal Navy, is exposed by the decline in recruitment during 2023. "Recruitment for the Navy and Royal Marines fell by 22.1% compared to the previous year, while that of the RAF dropped by almost 17% and the Army by nearly 15%... Despite the government planning to reduce the size of the Armed Forces, recruitment figures continue to fall well below the target," according to 'The Telegraph.'

The cutbacks would not only be limited to the escort force but would also affect the amphibious force. According to 'The Times,' the Ministry of Defence was considering decommissioning the amphibious ships HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion to free up personnel. The decommissioning of these units would leave the Royal Marines without one of their main naval means, a situation that will undoubtedly be analyzed in depth given the current international context, with conflicts in Ukraine, Israel, and the Red Sea far from being resolved. This is compounded by the UK's strategy to maintain its presence in strategic regions such as the Indo-Pacific and the South Atlantic.

Venezuela Reacts to UK Warship near Disputed Guyanese Waters

Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro has called for a defensive action in the Atlantic Ocean following the arrival of a British warship (HMS Trent) near Guyana's coast. Maduro announced the deployment, involving 5,682 soldiers, three ocean patrols, seven missile-launching ships, 12 Sukhoi planes, and eight amphibious vehicles, as a measure to protect Venezuela's interests and sovereignty.

The tension between Venezuela and Guyana over the Essequibo territory has resurfaced after Venezuela's decision to claim the region through a unilateral referendum. The Essequibo, a vast area rich in natural resources, has been historically disputed between the two nations, with Guyana asserting its territorial integrity based on an 1899 arbitration ruling.

Maduro vehemently criticized the arrival of the British warship, labeling it as a violation of recent bilateral agreements between Venezuela and Guyana aimed at resolving disputes through nonviolent negotiations. He considered the warship's presence a threat to peace and a breach of the established protocols between the neighboring countries.

In response, the United Kingdom urged Venezuela to cease its "unjustified actions" against Guyana, reiterating its support for Guyana's territorial integrity. The UK emphasized that the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela was established through international arbitration in 1899, opposing Venezuela's recent referendum claim.

Guyana's Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, addressing concerns, assured that his country had no intention of initiating offensive actions against Venezuela. He emphasized Guyana's commitment to maintaining stability, avoiding any actions that might escalate tensions, and adhering to the agreement to resolve disputes peacefully.

This renewed dispute over territorial control and boundaries has reignited longstanding tensions between Venezuela and Guyana. The disagreement, now intertwined with legal complexities, has led Guyana to seek validation from the International Court of Justice, further complicating the historical conflict over the Essequibo territory.

During the maneuvers in the Atlantic, in response to the British warship's presence off the coast of Guyana, Venezuela has deployed 3 ocean patrol vessels, 2 logistical transporters, 3 multipurpose ships, 6 K8 fighter aircraft, 5 F16 fighter jets, and 12 Sukhoi SU-30 fighter planes.

The recent naval presence and increased military activities in the region reflect the rising geopolitical tensions, underscoring the delicate nature of the longstanding territorial dispute and its potential implications on regional stability.

United Kingdom is deploying P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and Royal Navy ships to Middle East

The British government has announced a comprehensive deployment package intended to bolster Israel, mitigate the risk of escalation, and provide humanitarian assistance. This package includes Royal Air Force P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, various unspecified surveillance assets, two Royal Fleet Auxiliary support vessels, three Merlin helicopters, and a contingent of Royal Marines. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary plays a critical support role within the Royal Navy.

Maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft operations are scheduled to commence as early as October 13 to monitor threats to regional security, such as illicit weapons transfers to terrorist organizations.

In addition, a Royal Navy task force will set sail for the region next week as a precautionary measure to further assist humanitarian initiatives. This task force will consist of the landing ship dock RFA Lyme Bay and the support and hospital vessel RFA Argus. 

UK will send Apache helicopters armed with Hellfire missiles to Ukraine, UK media

Britain will send attack helicopters armed with deadly Hellfire missiles to Ukraine in a move hailed as a “game-changer”.

The Apache choppers will bolster the country’s desperate fight against Russian invaders, now entering its 11th month.

The new package of support, to include tanks, was confirmed yesterday by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

A senior defence source told the Sunday People that up to four Apaches will be sent – and they will follow 10 Challenger 2 main battle tanks.

UK will send the AH64 E – the most modern version of the Apache.

mirror 

Ukraine Russia War Day 324

United Kingdom confirms plans to give Challenger 2 Tanks to Ukraine

During a recent call, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the United Kingdom’s commitment to providing increased support to Ukraine.

This includes the provision of advanced military equipment, such as the Challenger 2 main battle tank and additional artillery systems.
The Prime Minister also acknowledged the recent successes of the Ukrainian military in pushing back Russian troops and highlighted the importance of accelerating global military and diplomatic support at this crucial juncture.
The conversation was confirmed by Downing Street.

ukdefencejournal 

Ukraine Russia War List of key events, day 324

• Russia said its forces were edging closer to capturing Soledar,.

• A Russian-installed official in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region said “pockets of resistance” remain in Soledar.

• Russia appointed Valery Gerasimov as its overall commander of forces for the war in Ukraine. Gerasimov played key roles in Russia’s seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

• Russia could raise the upper age limit for citizens to be conscripted into the armed forces as part of Moscow’s plans to boost the number of Russian troops by 30 percent.

• More than a dozen senior European Union officials will visit Kyiv on February 2 to meet members of the Ukrainian government.

• A delegation headed by the commander of Russia’s ground forces, Oleg Salyukov, visited Belarus to inspect the combat readiness of a joint force stationed there.

• Ukraine expressed its disappointment in signals that the new Israeli government may establish closer ties with Russia.

• A spokesperson for Russia’s foreign ministry questioned whether Sweden has “something to hide” over blasts along the Nord Stream gas pipelines last September.

• Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatiana Moskalkova said Moscow and Kyiv were interested in future contacts between their rights commissioners.

aljazeera

OUTBREAK of COVID-19 on Royal Navy's HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier is currently in Portsmouth after her scheduled departure yesterday was postponed. It comes after ‘fewer than 10’ sailors tested positive on September 7. 

That delayed her departure from Portsmouth Naval Base until two days later. She then returned to her homeport on Sunday to collect supplies for F-35B fighter jet trials. Now the Royal Navy has confirmed ‘additional positive cases’ onboard the £3.1bn warship. 

Her remaining 1,000-strong crew are following Public Health England guidelines. Some who tested positive last week have since been cleared to return to work having tested negative. 

A Royal Navy spokesman said: ‘Retesting the ship’s company has confirmed a number of additional positive cases. ‘Those individuals have been removed from the ship and the remaining ship’s company continue to follow PHE guidelines.’ ‘The timing of sailing of our ships is dependent upon a number of factors. The decision to sail rests with the captain.’ 

The ship is listed as being due to sail from Portsmouth on Friday at around 1pm-2pm. 

portsmouth

UK signs £65m contract for first three Protectors

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has ordered its first three of a planned 16 Protector RG1 unmanned air vehicles from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, with the £65 million ($82 million) contract announced on 15 July.
Also including three ground control stations and support equipment, the launch production order follows what the MoD describes as a “successful development phase” activity performed by General Atomics in the USA.
With its first production order now in place, the MoD says operations with the Protector fleet will start by mid-2024. The type will replace the Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) current General Atomics Reapers.
flightglobal

RAF TYPHOONS INTERCEPT TU-160 RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT OVER THE NORTH SEA

RAF Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoon fighter aircraft scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth, with an RAF Voyager from RAF Brize Norton, to monitor two Russian Blackjacks approaching UK airspace las 29th, March.
The RAF worked closely with NATO partners to monitor the Russian aircraft as they passed through a variety of international airspace before they were intercepted over the North Sea. The ighters escorted them from the UK’s area of interest and ensured that they did not enter UK sovereign airspace.
raf.mod.uk

UK signs E-7 airborne early warning contract

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed plans to acquire five Boeing 737-based E-7 airborne early warning and control system aircraft, with the platforms to be modified by Marshall Aerospace & Defence Group.
The E-7 system – already operated by the Royal Australian Air Force, plus South Korea and Turkey – is based on the 737NG airframe, and powered by CFM International CFM56 engines. Its mission equipment includes a Mesa active electronically scanned array produced by Northrop Grumman, plus onboard operator stations.
Each E-7 will be flown with a crew of two pilots and 10 mission operators, according to the MoD. It describes the type as having an operating ceiling of 41,000ft, and a range of up to 3,500nm (6,470km). The type also will feature commonality with the RAF's future fleet of nine 737NG-based P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, the first of which is scheduled for delivery later this year.
flightglobal

UK confirms new deal for 17 F-35Bs

The UK Ministry of Defence has ordered its next 17 Lockheed Martin F-35Bs, as part of a 255-unit, multinational framework agreement announced by the US Department of Defense.
Confirming the development on 15 November, the MoD said: "The 17 new F-35B aircraft will be delivered between 2020 and 2022." This corresponds with the programme's 12th through 14th lots of low-rate initial production.
A total of 16 F-35Bs have so far been delivered to the UK, for use with the Royal Air Force's 617 Sqn at Marham in Norfolk and during test activities being performed in the USA. Two other aircraft have yet to be handed over from previous commitments, meaning total orders for the UK now stand at 35 units.
The nation maintains a total commitment to acquiring 138 F-35s over the life of the programme.
flightglobal

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets scramble to intercept Russian bombers

On 31st October 2018, RAF Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoon fighter aircraft scrambled to monitor two Russian strategic bombers approaching UK airspace.
“Typhoon fighters … were scrambled today as a precautionary measure against a potential incursion into UK area of interest by one or more unidentified aircraft,” a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense said.
“At no time was there a threat to UK airspace ..,” he added.
defence-blog

UK in talks to buy Boeing E-7 Wedgetail

The British Ministry of Defense (MOD) is in talks with Boeing to acquire the E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control System.
The MOD said after a market analysis and discussions with providers of other systems it had concluded the E-7 Wedgetail was the most cost-effective aircraft available and potentially could be used in collaboration with Australia, an ally and member of the “Five Eyes” intelligence sharing treaty.
The British Ministry of Defense (MOD) is in talks with Boeing to acquire the E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control System.
The MOD said after a market analysis and discussions with providers of other systems it had concluded the E-7 Wedgetail was the most cost-effective aircraft available and potentially could be used in collaboration with Australia, an ally and member of the “Five Eyes” intelligence sharing treaty.
flightglobal

First F-35 UK Deck Landing on HMS Queen Elizabeth

According MoD twetter acount today has been the first F-35 landing on the deck of Royal Navy HMS Queen Elizabeth.
DefenceHQ

Saab readies to offer airborne early warning plane to UK

Saab is considering proposing an alternative to Boeing’s 737 Wedgetail for the United Kingdom’s future airborne early warning aircraft, but it isn’t ready to say which plane it will choose to host its radar if a program goes forward, the Swedish company’s top executive confirmed to Defense News on July 13.
“We are working with partners and others to try to find a solution,” Saab CEO Håkan Buskhe said during an interview at the Royal International Air Tattoo. “We are confident that we have a good system. … We are good in integration and could deliver according to time [constraints], probably much more affordably with better technology.”
Defense News was the first to report that Saab and Airbus specifically had discussed a partnership that would bring together Saab’s Erieye radar and an Airbus aircraft.
Buskhe declined to confirm whether the company was in talks with Airbus, instead saying more broadly that it was speaking to a number of platform providers.
“First of all our sensors and our system integration is fantastic. We can see stealth aircraft from hundreds and hundreds of kilometers and follow them and target them and the same mode for land, air, at the same time,” he said.
Its GlobalEye aircraft — a modified Bombardier Global 6000 business jet with a suite of integrated sensors including an extended-range version of the Erieye radar, and that’s one one option, but “we are also open if there would be other platforms," he added.
“We don’t compromise quality and efficiency,” he said. “From that, we are open to discussions to bring that technology for example into the U.K. and build them that.”
The United Kingdom is considering an order of new airborne early warning planes to replace its aging Boeing E-3D Sentry aircraft. In June, the Times newspaper reported that the U.K. government preferred to sole source the Wedgetail from Boeing.
One member of Parliament — Julian Lewis, who heads its Defence Committee — wrote an open letter to British Defence Procurement Minister Guto Bebb, urging the Ministry of Defence to open a wider competition, citing Boeing’s 2017 pursuit of tariffs against Bombardier that would have hurt a plant in Northern Ireland.
However, on July 12, Reuters reported that the MoD still leaned toward the sole-source plan and intended to award Boeing a contract for four to six Wedgetail aircraft in the coming weeks, valued at an estimated $1 billion.
If the United Kingdom does end up sole sourcing the Wedgetail, Buskhe said, Saab would “respect the government’s decision” and look for other potential business opportunities.
defensenews

First Four RAF F-35 fighter jets land in UK

 

The first of Britain’s next-generation fighter jets, the F-35B Lightning have arrived home two months ahead of schedule in a major milestone for the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy.
The first of Britain’s new cutting-edge aircraft arrived into RAF Marham, their new home in Norfolk. They touched down this evening after a trans-Atlantic flight from the United States, where Britain has more of the jets and 150 personnel in training.
The F-35s took off from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort earlier today, and were flown by British pilots of the newly-reformed 617 Squadron, which was immortalised by the famous Dambusters’ raid of World War II.
raf

France says it will consider letting UK join fighter aircraft (FCAS) partnership with Germany

Though France is focused on its work with Germany on a Future Combat Air System, Paris will later consider the U.K. as a partner on the wide-ranging project for a network of manned and unmanned fighter aircraft, according to the Armed Forces Ministry.
The goal of the Franco-German alliance is to design and build a new fighter jet to eventually replace the Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon. Other armed and unarmed aircraft will be integrated into that Future Combat Air System.
defensenews

Germany fears steeper Tornado costs after the UK ditches its planes

The planned phasing out of the United Kingdom’s last Tornado aircraft has German officials scrambling to deal with the increasing costs of a shrinking fleet.
Continuing aircraft reductions in the tri-national program, which also includes Italy, have led to “significant technical, logistical and financial risk” in maintaining the 1980s-era fighter-bombers, officials have told lawmakers in a confidential report seen by Defense News.
While the prospect of Britain’s exit from the aircraft program has been known since November 2016, there is “no sufficient and comprehensive planning in place” for sustaining the remaining German planes, the report warns.
German defense leaders decided in 2016 to extend the life of the Tornado through 2035, with an assessment planned this summer of implementation plans to that end. Berlin originally purchased 357 aircraft; 93 are still in the inventory today, 88 of which belong to the Luftwaffe, according to the defense ministry.
A handful of German Tornados packed with reconnaissance equipment are currently deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, flying missions over Iraq and Syria.
The defense ministry’s March 2018 report leaves open the question of how, and if, the UK would retain some kind of role in the program. Last November, the document states, there was talk about introducing a new, fixed scheme for financial contributions, abandoning the practice of going by the number of airframes used in each nation.
The British plan to use the Eurofighter Typhoon and the F-35 to absorb missions flown by Tornados. In Germany, the Typhoon appears to be the defense ministry’s preference for a follow-on aircraft, though there are also voices advocating for the F-35. Officials have requested information on both planes from the manufacturers, plus data from the maker of the F-18 and the F-15.
defensenews

UK begins Gazelle helicopter replacement effort

Initial work is under way to replace the British Army's active fleet of 22 elderly Aérospatiale Gazelle AH1 helicopters, as the venerable type nears retirement.
Air Cdre Al Smith,declined to reveal the platform under consideration, or the timeline for any acquisition. The latter is driven by the out-of-service date for the Gazelle, which could be accelerated from a current target of 2025 if the type becomes more costly to support due to a shortage of spare parts.
Employed by the Army Air Corps in the reconnaissance and battlefield liaison role, the Gazelle also relies on a pool of what Smith describes as "really highly trained" flightcrew, who are used to operating as a single pilot in "quite challenging weather conditions".
flightglobal