Introduction to the CAPTOR Radar

1/25 The CAPTOR radar is the beating heart of the Eurofighter Typhoon’s sensor suite, enabling its air superiority and multi-role capabilities. Developed through a multinational effort, it has evolved from a Cold War-era concept to a cutting-edge system. This thread traces its journey from requirement to operational use, its technology, variants, and relevance today, with a focus on the UK’s investment in the ECRS Mk2. As always views are my own and posts can be corrected if errors are found. This is third in series of UK airborne radars (Blue Fox/Vixen, Fox Hunter and now CAPTOR). Larger radars will be covered soon (Search Water etc). Origins of the CAPTOR Radar

2/25 The CAPTOR, originally the ECR-90, was born in the 1980s under the Future European Fighter Aircraft (FEFA) programme, aimed at countering Soviet aircraft like the MiG-29. Led by the EuroRadar consortium (UK, Germany, Italy, Spain), it built on the Ferranti Blue Vixen radar from the Sea Harrier FA2, leveraging pulse Doppler technology for superior target detection in cluttered environments.

Introduction to MoD Information Security

Further update - part 3

I’m not a lawyer but I do have some knowledge of information security.

1/25 The Ministry of Defence (MoD) operates in a high-stakes environment where safeguarding sensitive information is critical to national security and public trust. This thread explores the MoD’s information security processes, their alignment with UK laws and standards, and the fallout from the 2022 Afghan data breach, revealed after a superinjunction was lifted on 15 July 2025. Here is how the MoD manages data and where (I believe) it went wrong.

Views my own. The MoD’s Information Security Framework

2/25 The MoD’s information security is governed by the Government Security Classifications Policy (GSCP), which uses three tiers: OFFICIAL, SECRET, and TOP SECRET. Each tier has specific security controls to protect data based on its sensitivity and potential impact if compromised. This ensures proportionate safeguards for everything from routine admin to critical intelligence.

BLUF – A Two-Division Model for the British Army

1/25 The British Army should restructure into two divisions—one tracked, one wheeled—each with three brigades of three all-arms battle groups, to meet Strategic Defence Review (SDR) requirements. This suggestion aims to spark debate on sustaining NATO commitments in the High North and Baltics while enabling operations in the Middle East and Africa. The Heavy Division would sustain armoured battle groups, with brigades and divisions as resource providers, supported by modern equipment like Challenger 3 and Boxer. Cultural and structural challenges, including resistance to change and logistical constraints, must be addressed. A phased timeline from 2025 to 2032 aligns with equipment deliveries. Without significant reform, the Army risks irrelevance in a volatile strategic environment.

This thread has been put together following discussions with @thinkdefence and @MrSnaplegs last year (TD followed with a long read).

@nicholadrummond @509298 @BO3673 @PhilipIngMBE @BenWallace70 thoughts welcome on this Why Restructure the British Army?

2/25 The British Army faces evolving threats that demand a modern, agile force to remain relevant. The SDR, published in spring 2025, prioritises NATO deterrence and global deployability. A two-division model—one Heavy (tracked) for high-intensity conflict and one Expeditionary (wheeled) for rapid deployment—offers a solution. By focusing on all-arms battle groups, the Army can deploy flexible units while sustaining commitments. Reform is critical to avoid obsolescence amidst budget and personnel constraints.

CSG25 and Fleet Air Defence in CEPP

1/25 The UK’s Carrier Strike Group 2025 (CSG25), led by HMS Prince of Wales, embodies Carrier Enabled Power Projection (CEPP). This thread clarifies fleet air defence as a core CEPP KUR, countering doubts, and covers CSG25 assets, RN limitations, and challenges like no AAR or MADL. CEPP Overview

2/25 CEPP enables global power projection via CSG25, integrating naval, air, and land forces for combat, deterrence, and aid missions. Fleet air defence is a KUR, protecting the carrier to ensure CSG25’s effectiveness in contested Indo-Pacific regions, despite claims it is not central to CEPP.

Introduction to the NMH Programme

1/25 The UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme, launched in 2021, aims to replace aging rotary-wing platforms but is mired in financial necessity and poor decisions by the MoD, DG Helicopters, and DE&S. The Puma HC2’s withdrawal has left a capability gap, with RAF Benson now without aircraft. Historical Context

2/25 Announced in the 2021 Defence Command Paper, NMH sought to replace four platforms: RAF Puma HC2, AAC Bell 212, RAF Bell 412 Griffin, and AAC AS365 Dauphin. Aging airframes and high maintenance costs drove the need, but financial constraints, not user needs, shaped the programme’s scope.

The UK’s F-35A and F-35B Procurement: Strategic Shifts and Challenges

1/25 The UK’s recent decision to purchase 12 F-35A jets alongside its F-35B fleet marks a significant shift in defence policy. This thread explores the rationale, sacrifices, and challenges, focusing on the nuclear role, NATO, and impacts on Carrier Enabled Power Projection (CEPP).
It follows my F-35B post from yesterday - talk about “timing” 😎 Rationale for F-35B

2/25 The F-35B was chosen in the 1998 SDR for its STOVL capability, essential for HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales. This prioritised CEPP to project power globally, especially in the Indo-Pacific and reflected the expeditionary outlook of the UK at that time. F-35B was a fudge as it was neither the RAF or RN’s choice of F-35 (politics and industrial lobbying).

UK’s F-35B Ambitions (updated)

1/25 The UK’s adoption of the F-35B Lightning II aims to deliver cutting-edge, fifth-generation capabilities for the RAF and RN. However, integrating this platform faces challenges in weapon systems, logistics, operational concepts, and sovereignty, raising questions about value for money and strategic fit. Weapon System Integration Issues

2/25 Integrating UK-specific weapons like Meteor and SPEAR 3 is delayed to the 2030s due to F-35 Block 4 upgrade and other issues. The F-35B’s current fit, limited to Paveway IV and AAMs, restricts its versatility, especially for SEAD/DEAD missions critical in modern conflicts like Israel-Iran.

Introduction to UK GBAD Status

1/25 The UK’s ground-based air defence (GBAD) relies on the Sky Sabre system, operated by 16 Regt RA. However, limited deployability and 2005/6 cuts have weakened the UK’s ability to protect bases like RAF Akrotiri from Iran’s long-range missiles, exposing strategic vulnerabilities in a tense global environment. Sky Sabre System Overview

2/25 Sky Sabre, introduced in 2021, integrates CAMM missiles, Giraffe AMB radar, and MIC4AD command systems. It can engage aircraft, drones, and munitions up to 25km, with 360° radar coverage to 120km. Operated by 16 Regt RA, it’s a medium-range solution but limited by asset scarcity.

The RAF King Air Shadow Programme – A Deep Dive into Its Origins, Systems, Role, Challenges, and Future

1/25 Origins of the Shadow R1

The RAF’s Shadow R1 programme, based on the Beechcraft King Air 350CER, began as an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) in the 2000s to meet intelligence needs in Afghanistan. The conflict demanded real-time ISR to support ground forces, driving the need for a flexible, manned platform. 2/25 Why the King Air 350CER?

The King Air 350CER was chosen for its proven reliability, cost-effectiveness, and adaptability. Its twin-turboprop design, powered by Pratt & Whitney PT6A-47A engines, offered up to 7 hours of endurance, ideal for regional surveillance from austere airfields.

Introduction to Artisan and NS110/200 Comparison

Follow Up Part 1 on my T31 Thread

1/25: The Artisan Radar (BAE Systems) and Thales NS110/200 radars are key to Royal Navy’s T26 and T31 frigates. This thread compares their hardware, software, strengths, weaknesses, C2 integration, and RN challenges in supporting dual radar systems from different suppliers in complex maritime environments.
Technical Overview: Shared Capabilities

2/25: Both Artisan and NS110/200 operate in S-band, balancing range and resolution for air and surface surveillance. They detect aircraft, missiles, UAVs, and ships in cluttered littoral zones, using digital beam-forming for robust tracking in high-threat scenarios.

The Prevail Partners Littoral Strike Ship: A Transformative Approach to Supporting the Future Commando Force

1/25 The Prevail Partners Littoral Strike Ship (LSS) offers a bold vision for the UK’s Future Commando Force (FCF). Designed to support agile, tech-driven Royal Marine operations, it rethinks naval platforms for modern littoral warfare. 2/25 The FCF, part of the 2021 Integrated Review, shifts Royal Marines to small, agile units for special ops in contested littorals. It counters A2AD threats and supports rapid, low-footprint missions. The LSS is built to enable this vision with flexibility and forward presence.

The Evolution of Amphibious Warfare and the Role of the Commando Insertion Craft in the Future Commando Force

1/25 Amphibious warfare has shaped military strategy for centuries, enabling power projection from sea to shore. The Royal Marines, Britain’s elite amphibious force, rely on specialised landing craft to execute such missions, a practice rooted in historical operations like the D-Day landings of 1944. 2/25 World War II’s Normandy invasion showcased the Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP), or “Higgins Boat,” with its flat-bottomed design and bow ramp for rapid troop deployment. This simple, effective concept became the standard for amphibious assaults, persisting through decades of conflict.

The MBDA SPEAR 3 Missile Programme – Delays, Integration Challenges, and Strategic Shortfalls

1/25 The MBDA SPEAR 3 missile, intended to equip the UK’s F-35B with stand-off precision strike capability, is now delayed to the early 2030s. This thread examines the programme’s issues, its impact on Carrier Enabled Power Projection, and why the F-35B (currently) falls short of its strategic objectives. Original Requirement:

2/25 SPEAR 3 (Selective Precision Effects At Range Capability 3) is a network-enabled, air-to-surface missile designed to engage mobile and relocatable targets at ranges exceeding 60 miles, critical for Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) and deep strikes.

The Type 42 Batch 1 Destroyer – Conception, Design, and Early Service

1/25 This series of threads will explore the evolution of the Type 42 Destroyer, the design, the batches, the Falklands and the Gulf. It is open to comment, criticism, dits and photos. @IntercityFC and others, please feel free to add. I also point people to the great podcast ShipWrekt and these episodes: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/shi…

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/shi… 2/25 The Type 42 Batch 1 destroyer, or Sheffield-class, was a cornerstone of the Royal Navy’s 1970s fleet, balancing ambition with austerity. Conceived to replace the costly Type 82, it delivered area air defense via the Sea Dart missile system. This thread explores its design, constraints, and early roles.

For those that know me I’m all about balance so..

The Parachute Regiment: Origins, Evolution, and the Enduring P-Company Tests

1/25 We will examine the Parachute Regiment’s training, its historical inception, and the rationale for the Pre-Parachute Selection (P-Company) tests. We trace the regiment’s evolution since 1945 and the standards that define its elite airborne status. 2/25 Formed in 1940 during the Second World War, the Parachute Regiment was established following Winston Churchill’s directive for airborne forces. Inspired by German paratrooper successes, the regiment was tasked with rapid, high-impact operations.

The Royal Marines: Origins, Evolution, and the Enduring Commando Tests (maintaining the standard)

1/25 This thread examines the Royal Marines’ training, its historical inception, and the rationale for the Commando Tests. It traces their evolution since 1945, the conferment of Commando status, and the unchanging standards that define their status. 2/25 Established in 1664 as the Duke of York’s Maritime Regiment of Foot, the Royal Marines served aboard naval vessels, maintaining discipline and engaging in combat. By the 18th and 19th centuries, their amphibious role expanded to include land campaigns.

The County-Class Destroyer – The Royal Navy’s First Digital Warship

1/25 The County-class destroyer, launched in the 1960s, was a groundbreaking step for the Royal Navy, blending missile technology and automation. This thread explores its design, innovations, and legacy, from conception to its role in conflicts and eventual decline. Opinions my own, facts can be questioned. 2/25 Origins and Concept

Conceived in the 1950s amid Cold War tensions, the County class was designed to shield aircraft carriers from Soviet bombers like the Tu-95 “Bear.” It marked a shift from gun-based to missile-based warfare, aiming to counter high-altitude nuclear threats with guided weapons.

HMS Fearless: The Deathstar - A Legacy

1/25 Introduction to HMS Fearless
HMS Fearless (L10), a Fearless-class landing platform dock (LPD), commissioned in 1965, was the cornerstone of Royal Navy amphibious warfare. Nicknamed “The Deathstar” by crews and embarked forces, it embodied innovation and adaptability. This thread series explores its design, operational history, and legacy. 2/25 Inception Post-WWII and Korea
HMS Fearless emerged from lessons of the Second World War and Korean War. Normandy (1944) and Inchon (1950) highlighted the need for purpose-built amphibious platforms, moving beyond converted merchant ships and vulnerable landing craft.

The Flower-Class Corvette: A Study in Simplicity, Strength, and Evolution

1/25 Introduction to the Flower-Class Corvette

Flower-class corvette, a modest warship of World War II, epitomised utility over grandeur. Built by the Royal Navy and its allies, it served as a small but vital escort vessel. This thread (as requested) examines its design, strengths, weaknesses, wartime role, and legacy as a test bed for future naval platforms. 2/25 Historical Context

Corvettes historically bridged the gap between frigates and smaller patrol craft. The Flower-class, introduced in 1939, was designed for coastal duties but adapted for oceanic warfare. Its story reflects the exigencies of war and the ingenuity of pragmatic engineering.

Thread: HMS Ark Royal - A Study in Naval Innovation and Lost Potential

1/25: HMS Ark Royal, the Royal Navy’s last steam catapult carrier, commissioned in 1955, epitomised British naval engineering. This thread examines her history, design, air wing evolution, and legacy, culminating in a critique of her premature 1979 decommissioning. 2/25: Launched in 1950 from Cammell Laird, Ark Royal was the third Audacious-class carrier. At 36,800 tons and 804 feet, she was formidable, but her innovations; angled deck, steam catapults et al set her apart as a pioneer of the jet age.

Carrier Enabled Power Projection - Ambition and Reality.

1/25 Carrier-enabled power projection represents a vital element of the United Kingdom’s ambition to maintain a significant global military presence. This capability, which relies on aircraft carriers to project airpower across vast distances, has faced numerous challenges since its inception. Let’s explore its origins and ongoing difficulties (opinions my own). 2/25 The foundation of this journey was laid with the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, initiated by the newly elected Labour government. This review sought to reshape the UK’s defence strategy in the post-Cold War era, proposing the construction of two new carriers to replace the ageing Invincible-class vessels. It marked a bold shift toward expeditionary warfare.