JamesFennell MBE Profile picture
Aug 30 7 tweets 3 min read Read on X
The UK's plan to aquire 7,000 long range weapons is becoming clearer. In addition to the FC/ASW 1,000km TP15 and RJ10 subsonic stealth and supersonic cruise missiles for the RAF and RN, the Army will deploy 600km BRAKESTOP OWEs and NIGHTFALL tactical ballistic missiles. Image
Both BRAKESTOP and NIGHTFALL are sovereign developed, ITAR-free and domestically produced capabilities, like FC/ASW, but unlike the Anglo-French-Italian MBDA missile programme and to be low cost and rapidly developed for fielding before 2030. Image
The one programme that is less clear is ELSA, a pan-European plan to aquire a 2,000km cruise or ballistic missile. Whether this will be a new weapon programme or a development of another weapon under development or procurment of an existing weapon is unknown. Image
Its also unclear if NIGHTFALL signals the deathknell for the Army's plan to aquire PrSM for M270. NIGHTFALL has a larger warhead than PrSM, but is less suitable against moving or well defended targets unless fired in large barrages, so a smaller purchase of PrSM remains possible. Image
The Army has already aquired 400 Modini Dart 250 EW drones for use in SEAD/DEAD against adversary SHORAD. These UK-Ukrainian developed 250km range OWEs are currently deployed with Operation CABRIT in Estonia. Whether more will be aquired is not yet known. Image
Last but not least, production of the upgraded Storm Shadow 550km range cruise missile has been restarted in both the UK and France, and more will be aquired for use by the RAF before FC/ASW enters service. Its unclear how many more, but UK's inventory of 900 is depleted. Image
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More from @FennellJW

Aug 23
Lets talk about castles.

The castle was a Norman military innovation of the 11th century. It enabled a small elite, highly mobile military force to dominate and control large territories and much larger populations.
The castle served as an impregable command post, observation post, supply dump and garrison for a highly trained raiding force of mobile (mounted) warriors. These became 'knights'. The Normans, of Viking descent, used them to wrest control of territory in northern France. Image
The design enabled the Normans to overmatch the most common military technology of the time - the Huscarl shield wall - with heavily armoured cavalry armed with long lances. The castle provided a secure base in which men and horses could be sustained, secure from attack. Image
Read 34 tweets
Jul 11
IAMD priorities
- Portsmouth, Faslane, Devonport, Gibraltar naval bases
- Lossiemouth, Coningsby, Marham, Brize Norton, Akrotiri RAF bases
- GCHQ Cheltenham, Whitehall, Wyton, Waddington C2, ISR.
- Fylingdales and 8 Remote Radar Heads
- AWE Aldermaston and 6 nuclear power plants. Image
On the 'The Wargame' Sky podcast, Gen. Sir Richard Barrons, one of the SDR architects, said an 'Iron Dome' for the UK would cost £24 billion and is thus unaffordable.

Nevertheless, we should explore cheaper and more flexible means of providing IAMD against a first strike. Image
Two SAMP/T batteries could be procured to defend Faslane and London areas.

Sky Sabre batteries could defend the base clusters in Lincolnshire, Moray and along the Thames Valley (including Brize Northon, Army bases on Salisbury Plain, AWE, GCHQ, ARRC). Image
Read 11 tweets
Jun 30
In the 1930s the RAF allocated '300' series squadron numbers for crews from occupied nations and the '400' series for Article XV squadrons crewed by commonwealth allies.

Numbers 1-299 were regular RAF, 500 series for the Special Reserve and 600 for the Volunteer Reserve.
The first 300 series squadrons were formed in July 1940 with experienced Polish refugee aircrews.

Four (300, 301, 304 and 305) were bomber squadrons, initially given Fairey Battles withdrawn from RAF service, which were exchanged for Vickers Wellingtons by the end of the year. Image
Three (302, 303 and 306) were fighter squadrons, equipped with Hawker Hurricanes. 302 and 303 formed a Polish wing at RAF Northolt and shot down 66 enemy aircraft during the Battle of Britain.

307 squadron had Defiant turret fighters and would evolve into a night fighter unit. Image
Read 15 tweets
Jun 26
The missing link to make sense of the SDR and recent decisions on air power is a major ACP (Loyal Wingman) programme for both RAF and FAA.

This is an SDR recommendation and needs to be properly funded (billions), but is unlikely to get those resources until after 2029. Image
Introduction of an ACP to FAA needs to be timed with a 2030s MLU of the carriers, but can enter service earlier with the RAF, initially as part of UK IAMD and for the SEAD/DEAD mission, increasing mass in the fast jet force. Image
BAE and MHI have begun cooperation on ACP designs for GCAP, and Boeing Australia is looking for European partners to develop MQ-28 Ghostbat. General Atomics and Anduril are flying new lower cost designs for USAF, and Airbus and Saab have both shown concepts. Image
Read 17 tweets
Jun 18
With the prospect of the RN getting a new Type 92 sloop, I though I'd take a look at the history of the 'sloop' in the Royal Navy.

Sloop is an anglicised Dutch term, meaning a small flat bottomed ship, adopted by the Royal Navy from the 17th c. for small second class warships. Image
During the 18th and early 19th centuries the sloop was formalised as an unrated single gundeck warship of 18 guns, under the command of a 'Master and Commander' rather than a post Captain. Smaller than frigates, they were used for trade protection on distant outposts. Image
The sloop was the RN's equivalent to the French Navy's 'corvette' and were usually the first command for the Royal Navy's junior officers.

During the 19th century the type was adapted for colonial service, with a mixture of both sail and steam for patolling distant stations. Image
Read 31 tweets
Jun 17
Hunt class escort destroyers.

Concerned that the new classes of large fleet destroyers were unsuited for convoy escort duties, a new type of small escort destroyer was designed in 1938-9.

The design was for a 1,000 ton ship based on the Bittern class colonial sloops. Image
Like the Bitterns, they would be built to naval standards, but power was raised from 3,300 to 19,000 shp on two shafts, giving a speed of 28 knts.

This resulted in considerable loss of range, making them only really suitable for North Sea and Mediterranean service. Image
In littoral waters their main opposition was to be enemy torpedo boats and fast attack craft, aircraft and submarines, and they were armed accordingly.

Designed for six 4" HA in three twin mounts, the first group were top heavy, and one was replaced by a quadruple 40mm pom pom. Image
Read 11 tweets

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