The Nimrod replacement P-8 or RC-135?

[albeback]

...... his answer at the time was "the MOD was considering the P-8 and that a base in England would be used if ordered".

As to the recent exercise, Kinloss is closing down and Macrihanish is no longer a RAF base that's why Lossie was chosen.

'A base in England'? Presumably either Brize Norton or Waddington would get even MORE crowded than they already are! Or maybe sanity would prevail and they'd re-open St. Mawgan? Some hopes.......

So Lossie was where the operation was based? That's not quite the same as '.....crews from RAF Lossiemouth'. The MoD needs a few lessons in exactness.

Probably Waddington, don't forget they are only likely to order 8-12 aircraft at best and trying to keep those on MPA duties will be hard enough as the RAF are likely to want to add on all the extra mission crap they did with the Nimrod MRA-4 (Long range Strike with Storm Shadow as Tornado is too short legged unless it has dedicated tanker support, Battlespace co-ordination as Sentinel too small to carry the sensors and the command staff to fully utilise that platforms capabilities).

Are the Sentinels not yet another casualty of the Cack -alition governments equally cack handed defence "review"? As I understand it, the squadron   is to be disbanded "to save money" in 2014?  Of course, Scotland DOES have an alternative second base - Leuchars! The proposal to base an armoured regiment there upon its return from Germany seen to have been killed off! Ministers have now  gone VERY quiet on the issue.

[Weaver]

Don't think anyone's falling over themselves to base units in Scotland with a referendum on Scottish independence looming.....

[Leading Observer]

Lets face it - any "Defence Review" ordered by any politicians any where has absolutly nothing to do with reviewing the defensive capabilities of the nations armed forces and everything to do with cost cutting. The bean counters [who seem to run everything these days ] understand nothing about whats needed for any military unit to be able to perform its role, but will happily send millions to save twenty quid, sack thousands and then wonder why what's left won't work as there "models" never seem to factor in the human element, and they are completely bamboozled by the unexpected turn of events. Politicians are only ever interested in the solution that makes them look good now, and anyhow, they, whatever party they represent, probably won't be around when the chickens come home to roost [or Argentina re-occupies the Falklands whichever comes first].

Rant over, I feel much better now

[Aircav]

just disband the RAF, give the Army all the helicopters and transports and the Navy the rest. 

[Weaver]

Lets face it - any "Defence Review" ordered by any politicians any where has absolutly nothing to do with reviewing the defensive capabilities of the nations armed forces and everything to do with cost cutting. The bean counters [who seem to run everything these days ] understand nothing about whats needed for any military unit to be able to perform its role, but will happily send millions to save twenty quid, sack thousands and then wonder why what's left won't work as there "models" never seem to factor in the human element, and they are completely bamboozled by the unexpected turn of events. Politicians are only ever interested in the solution that makes them look good now, and anyhow, they, whatever party they represent, probably won't be around when the chickens come home to roost [or Argentina re-occupies the Falklands whichever comes first].

Rant over, I feel much better now

Pretty much spot on. Cameron had been making noises about defence cuts and "not salami-slicing" before the election, the strong implication being that he wanted to cancel the carriers. When they got into power and found out that the carrier contract was stitched up so tight that they couldn't afford to cancel it, something else had to take the bullet instead, and Nimrod was the easiest target. Military requirements never came into the equation for a heartbeat.

[albeback]

Don't think anyone's falling over themselves to base units in Scotland with a referendum on Scottish independence looming.....

Lol!! We aren't there yet!! I'm sure we could offer the English Air Force a good deal!!

[Martin H]

[or Argentina re-occupies the Falklands whichever comes first].

Thankfully for our patriotic friends on said Islands. The Argentine military is in no fit state to have a 2nd attempt any time soon.
Their own economy is going down the tubes again, and the current government there makes ours look well organized. All the bluster from El Presidente is nothing more than a thinly vailed attempt to divert attention from the up coming problems the population are going to have to cope when the brown stuff finally hits the fan.

[PR19_Kit]

.... plus my daughter (She who's 'The Best.....' etc etc.  ) is down there just now, so they'd stand NO chance! 

[Martin H]

.... plus my daughter (She who's 'The Best.....' etc etc.  ) is down there just now, so they'd stand NO chance! 

And may what ever god they believe in have mercy on the soul of any one daft enough to take on a member of the Spackman clan lol

[rickshaw]

[or Argentina re-occupies the Falklands whichever comes first].

Thankfully for our patriotic friends on said Islands. The Argentine military is in no fit state to have a 2nd attempt any time soon.
Their own economy is going down the tubes again, and the current government there makes ours look well organized. All the bluster from El Presidente is nothing more than a thinly vailed attempt to divert attention from the up coming problems the population are going to have to cope when the brown stuff finally hits the fan.

Errr, isn't that the reason why they tried last time?

[NARSES2]

[or Argentina re-occupies the Falklands whichever comes first].

Thankfully for our patriotic friends on said Islands. The Argentine military is in no fit state to have a 2nd attempt any time soon.
Their own economy is going down the tubes again, and the current government there makes ours look well organized. All the bluster from El Presidente is nothing more than a thinly vailed attempt to divert attention from the up coming problems the population are going to have to cope when the brown stuff finally hits the fan.

Errr, isn't that the reason why they tried last time?

Yup, although it was more political problems rather then economic (although they had those as well). Also a Dictatorship can opt for the military option more easily then can a democratic goverment.

[Leading Observer]

"Also a Dictatorship can opt for the military option more easily then can a democratic goverment."

Probably easier to switch from one to the other in Argentina, after all it's happened before, and now there's oil and gas to be has as well, which would help sort out their economy long term.

[Thorvic]

Politics !!!!!!!!!!!!

Apart from the usual crap reporting that passes for Defence Journalism these days, try to focus of the What-if build potential, i know a number picked up AMT Rivet Joint Aircraft and sourced CFM-56 engines to create an RAF Airseeker, but i don't recall seeing any built as yet, an RAF (or Royal Navy !) P-8 Posedion is a little more involved as the only kit available so far is the Welsh Models mixed media version.

[Aircav]

Argentinean or Chilean Nimrod anybody?  
It would look well in Hemp with the blue, red and white star and may be a dark grey upper with a light grey underside for the Argentinean version.

[albeback]

Politics !!!!!!!!!!!!

Apart from the usual crap reporting that passes for Defence Journalism these days, try to focus of the What-if build potential, i know a number picked up AMT Rivet Joint Aircraft and sourced CFM-56 engines to create an RAF Airseeker, but i don't recall seeing any built as yet, an RAF (or Royal Navy !) P-8 Posedion is a little more involved as the only kit available so far is the Welsh Models mixed media version.
[/quote

Someone already HAS built one !! Not exactly an Air Seeker or, so much a Nimrod replacement but, more of a "what if Nimrod never happened"! Here's one I made earlier. Still got a bit of tidying up to do but, more or less complete. I will be posting this as a new topic with more pics later. This for starters. The Boeing /BAC Triton MR 1
IMG]http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g362/albeback52/002-7.jpg[/IMG]