Leak...

[AeroplaneDriver]

Aviation Week & Space Technology
January 15, 2006


Sources say that this week's rumors of a "Black" project at BAE Systems are unfounded.  However, AW&ST had learned that BAE engineers have been working frantically all weekend on a project codenamed "FLOTSAM".

Speculation is running rampant through the aerospace community regarding Project Flotsam.  Among reliable insiders the word is that Flotsam is either a stealthy manned strike aircraft set to steal the scene if the JSF project (or at least British participation) falls apart, or a really lovely new toaster design that will enable toast to be made with the butter already on it.

Sources promise pictures later today...

[K5054NZ]

  picspicspicspics

[AeroplaneDriver]

By mid-2004 there were some individuals at both BAE Systems and the UK MoD who were beginning to have doubts about the JSF program.

In a rare display of foresight, and spurred on by Lord Farrington Cholmondsley Smythe's emotional speech in the House of Lords calling for Britain to return to the forefront of aircraft development, funds were secretly funneled from the Nimrod MRA.4 program to fund further development along the lines of BAE's "Replica" project of the 1990s.

Where Replica was built as a research and demonstration airframe, supposedly to demonstrate to the US that the UK was capable of undertaking the JSF program, the project information revealed to the public was only a fraction of the actual program.

Though it never flew, Replica was built in such a way to allow a short conversion to flyable status.  

When the 2004 decision was made to explore alternatives to JSF, BAE dusted off the Replica project, and combined with the research undertaken as part of the Nightjar LO UCAV program they produced a prototype of a stealthy strike aircraft capable of operating from the RN's new aircraft carriers.

When, in mid-2007 the combination of US budgetary issues related to the war in Iran and US-UK technology transfer issues signaled the death-knell of the V/STOL F-35B, there was a sense of panic among the RN's carrier community.  What would become of their new flagship carriers with no F-35s?  Could cancellation be far behind?

So it was with a great sense of relief that officers from the RN FAA were briefed on Project FLOTSAM: Flexible Low Observable Tactical Strike Aircraft-Maritime

Flotsam was to be a strike aircraft built with a great deal of internal commonality to the Typhoon and Gripen.  Though the airframe was totally new, the engines were EJ203s with thrust vectoring, and much of the avionics suite was shared with Typhoon.  Off-the-shelf landing gear from the F/A-18 was also used.

With two internal weapons bays, Flotsam could operate in an LO configuration with 2 500 or 1000 bombs (Paveway, JDAM, JSOW), or 6 200lb Small Diameter bombs, as well as two ASRAAM self defense missiles.  

For operations in an environment of Air and Sensor Supremacy, Flotsam could carry four external weapons pylons, enabling it to carry and weapon in the UK inventory, as well as wingtip launch rails for Asraam or Amraam missiles.  

Though the design relied on some older aspects of stealth technology than the F-22/F-35, Flotsam provided a quick, and relatively cheap ($70m per copy) way for the RAF/RN to carry out "first day of the war" strikes in a heavily defended theater of operations.  

BAE's FLOTSAM proposal to the UK was part of a larger proposal to equip the RN carriers.  In addition to 68 Flotsam aircraft, BAE would develop and supply the Sea Gripen.  Based on Saabs "Super Gripen" with a stretched fuselage EJ230 engine, and conformal fuel tanks, the Sea Gripen would complement the Flotsam in operations not requiring an LO platform and would also be the primary fleet defence aircraft with it's AESA radar and Meteor/Asraam missile combination.  In total the RAF/RN would operate 84 Flotsam and 62 Sea Gripen.

By the time Flotsam entered service with the RAF/RN in 2014 it had been renamed "Firestorm".  When complete this model will depict a Firestorm GA.1 aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in spring 2016.

First Pics:  Airframe mostly complete, grey primer coat.













I had hoped to be further along tonight, but early this evening we found a new family member when a cute little dog showed up at our door.  He's pretty old and only has one eye, so naturally we couldnt leave him out in the cold!  He's at home on a bed of towels in our laundry room now with our cat at the door tryong to figure out what she thinks of this guest.  Hopefully we'll find his folks, but if not he looks like he'll make a good addition around the house.

Anyway...more pics after work tomorrow!

[cthulhu77]

stunned, amazed, and agape here in arizona...that is wicked !

[anthonyp]

Ok, this needs to be finished... like yesterday!  

Looks intriguing so far.  I see F-22 and Rafale for the fuselage, the wings escape me, though the flaps look like they might have come from an F-22.  How are you fixing to paint it?  

Ok, so you're forgiven for not finishing it this evening.  You can never turn away a cute dog...  An ugly one, maybe, but a cute one, never!  Any pics of the veteran wanderer?

[K5054NZ]

    I want one! Love the backstory!

[The Rat]

   

I am stunned...


amazed...


and aroused.    

[CanisD]

Nuts, I was really hoping it was a toaster...I like toast!  


Sweet looking, somewhat reminds me of the MIG-37 Ferret Stealth Fighter Whif from Italeri. Funny how that model proved to be so much closer to reality than their F-19.

[NARSES2]

Thats a beaut - nice story about the dog as well

[AeroplaneDriver]

Well, the dog is gone  

was a great litle dog, house trained and not a peep out of him all night, but this morning we saw a car driving down our street very slowly as if they were looking for something, so I went to see if they were looking for a dog, and sure enough they had lost their little black-one-eyed pooch.

He was happy to see her though, so all's well that ends well.

Today's modelling activites may be delayed a bit by a trip to the pound though...

[Dork the kit slayer]

.

Thats some kinda toaster.....with or without the butter function.    

[tigercat2]

GREAT looking aircraft and story - what are the kits and extra bits and pieces used?   Right now it looks so good in the assembly stage that one would think its a complete kit.


Wes W.

[lancer]

Awsome, brilliant baclkstory and what is looking to be an awsome build. You GOTTA get this one finished mate, it's a must see.....

[Captain Canada]

Yes !

Great story, only if it would come true !

Awesome looking bird as well.

Cheers !

[Roger the Cabin Boy Again]

He's pretty old and only has one eye, so naturally we couldnt leave him out in the cold!

Good for you!  Did you find anything similar down at the pound?  Warning - dog owning eats into modelling time!  But the exercise and fresh air better for you than paint and glue sniffing.

:ar: