Julien Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 UK Defence Journal is saying we are getting P-8s. As events this week have shown we have a big hole after Nimrod was closed down so its welcome. Maybe not as good as a P-1 IMHO but its good we are getting something! and money was on the P-8 as our crews are keeping current on them. https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-to-purchase-9-p-8-maritime-patrol-aircraft/?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=FacebookPage&utm_campaign=social Julien 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer Vor!!! Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Yippee Four pilots so two each and one to keep for Sunday's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlamgat9 Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 (edited) Cue wailing and gnashing of teeth in certain quarters! I rather liked the p-1 but it was never going to be. At least this will restore significant UK MMA/MPA capability. Commonality with the US has worked well for the strategic deterrent and i expect we will see much more of it in years to come. Edited November 23, 2015 by Vlamgat9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepureness Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 RAF to take on nine P-8 Poseidon aircraft to replace the Nimrods, Really like the look of the Poseidon, how long will it be before we get some kits on the market. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34897076 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Bunker Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 At least it stops the embarassment of having to borrow planes and crews from other nations to defend our home waters. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff_B Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 The P-1 was just too niche as designed and built in Japan for japan including the engines and airframe. Adapting everything to English, establishing a service and repair facility for just nine aircraft just would have taken too long and cost too much which is why it was a long shot. Rather glad they have bitten the bullet and opted for the Boeing P-8A Poseidon rather than go for a requirement competition, which would take too long, waste money needed elsewhere to come to the same conclusion as a Hercules refitted to MPA is not really suitable and the Airbus C-295 are more 2nd tier solutions they will still moan and try legal action to try and get their cut of the money for being frozen out, However I do wonder if the news last night of a Russian submarine incursion is to justify the urgent operational requirement to by-pass the standard procurement process ? One downside however I did pick up the Welshmodels 1/72nd Poseidon to do as a What-if and now it appears it will be a real world build 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaw Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Welsh Models have a P8 model already. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlamgat9 Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Thread merger time 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumbles Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 This is good, and vindicating the "seedcorn initiative" undertaken to place RAF Maritime aircrew in other air forces to keep the skills up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Pulfrew Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Hasegawa do a P8 as well but it's 1/200 I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 (edited) Add the AGS system the USN are trialling and you have a replacement for the Sentinel as well. And one out of two wasn't bad! http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/57391-harriers-to-go-in-defence-review/?p=615160 Edited November 23, 2015 by Dave Fleming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffreyK Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 The P-1 was just too niche as designed and built in Japan for japan including the engines and airframe. Adapting everything to English, establishing a service and repair facility for just nine aircraft just would have taken too long and cost too much which is why it was a long shot. Why? Japan and the UK are both left side driving countries, while the US is a right side driving country. That argument alone should have won the P-1 the contract. No hang on, I'm getting confused here.... But joking aside, I'd have loved to see the P-1, even if it was just for the David vs Goliath argument and helping Japan a little with their struggling economy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Probably the right decision - but how are we going to refuel it ??? From Wiki....... The P-8 cannot use the Navy's typical hose-and-drogue in-flight refuelin method, instead featuring a flying boom receptacle on the upper-forward fuselage We currently have no flying boom equipped tankers..... (but then, nor has the US Navy AFAIK ?) As for the P-1 - I would have preferred it - but until the Japanese buy more British kit.......................... Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 A step in the right direction. Can you imagine the Japanese instruction manual? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spfparker Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Come on Airfix and Revell - you know you want to......! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomBigStu Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Think the american tankers at mildenhalll might be willing to lend a hand, thought if they get based in Scotland or Cornwall that messes that up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMK Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Yep, 1/200... http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/m/10289596 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Think the american tankers at mildenhalll might be willing to lend a hand, thought if they get based in Scotland or Cornwall that messes that up Why, RAAF tanker assets are between 600 and 2500KM away from the Classic Hornet fighter SQNs and 1500km from where the P-8 SQN will be based Cornwall and Lossiemouth are only between 400 and 650 km away. A quick 1 hour shuttle flight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan B Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 "Think the american tankers at mildenhalll might be willing to lend a hand, thought if they get based in Scotland or Cornwall that messes that up" How do you work that out? The Typhoons that are intercepting Russian aircraft on a weekly basis are based in Scotland and the Tankers that support them are based in Oxfordshire. Anyhow, I'm just glad that we won't have to suffer the embarrassment of seeing Russian warships sitting 12 miles of the coast of Scotland with nothing to shoo them away with as we did a couple of years ago. Also glad that we will have a credible type to cover any maritime emergencies in our waters, when Piper 'A' blew up a Nimrod was overhead to co-ordinate all the rescue activities and undoubtedly helped to save many lives that night. Duncan B 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Probably the right decision - but how are we going to refuel it ??? From Wiki....... The P-8 cannot use the Navy's typical hose-and-drogue in-flight refuelin method, instead featuring a flying boom receptacle on the upper-forward fuselage We currently have no flying boom equipped tankers..... (but then, nor has the US Navy AFAIK ?) As for the P-1 - I would have preferred it - but until the Japanese buy more British kit.......................... Ken Nor could the E-3 Awacs until we and the French bought it and they then added the probe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julien Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share Posted November 23, 2015 Mildenhall tankers are relocating to Germany anyway. Is range an issue with the P-8? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomBigStu Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 yes, simply the whole idea behind our nimrod MPA was they could stay aloft almost indefinitely for days weeks at a time with airrefueling, the P-8 will have to land for fuel even if it has a good range at the end of the day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveH Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 It won't take too long to fitt a probe, might be the only bit of British kit on the plane....... Glad they finally took the plunge, if only 5 years late Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Bunker Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Now all we need is a kit (hint hint) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Mildenhall tankers are relocating to Germany anyway. Is range an issue with the P-8? They can always buy the stretched 'ER' variant. They'll need room for the fridge for the DCS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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