A good non UK example of this challenge in defining 80% is the US Landing Ship Mediums, they actually use the term affordable in a lot of the materials. Not a million miles off the old RFA Knights class. They have been subject to rigorous requirements setting exercise

But here is the kicker, recent news indicates they will cost $340 to $430 million per ship. And, as we all know that costs only rise, does anyone have confidence in the final outturn being at the low end of that estimate? They have tested ideas out on a civilian vessel (below)

Have been looking at some consistent writing themes of mine since I started Think Defence in February 2009

ONE
The MoDs corporate memory is appalling, records are not kept, the Army spends more time learning about Waterloo than it does about failed programmes like FRES TWO

Standardisation, commonality, resilience, hedging against risk and avoiding niche fleets of anything are a Good Thing TM

How to become well informed on UK defence matters...

Six steps, very simple, if you have the time 1.

Get on Twitter, subscribe to manufacturers, trade punlications, unit accounts, MoD accounts etc. Do the same on LinkedIn and Facebook

A fascine is the simplest of gap-crossing methods, nothing more than a bundle of pipes or sticks. They are as old as my favourite pulling pants but much more effective

A thread

1 They have been used since the early days of warfare, in the published work, a Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons by Francis Grose, published in 1786, he mentions their use a number of times.



2amzn.to/44KzgIT

Am quite smitten at the minute with the Flyer 60 and Flyer 72 for Merlin and Chinook internal carriage, and at least 6 per A400M. A common vehicle family for Paras, Marines, and Rangers.

Heresy I know





But with, you know

Let's have a chat about helicopter transportable ultralight transport

1. Why bother?

It is better than walking is as simple as it gets. Of course, there are loads of other reasons, mostly about allowing the area of influence to be much larger than foot (or ski) borne and allowing the helicopter to stand off at a reasonable distance

2.

A quick history lesson on RN aircraft carriers (recent)

For some reason, the RN and MoD were tempted by the illusion that they could afford the conventional variant F-35C.

1/ They threw away years of operational and financial analysis to provide the incoming secretary of state with a bat to beat the previous government with

Look up the parliamentary exchanges if you don't believe me, ministers positively gloated about the change

/2

Piers for Use on Beaches

The US Navy Elevated Causeway System Modular, or ELCAS-M is a fantastic solution for loading and offloading lighters, without having a port.

Somewhat obscure, but that is why I like it!

Thread

1/ Part of the Joint Logistics Over The Shore (JLOTS) capability set, ELCAS-M is actually a British-designed product (file under not many people know that). It is designed to enable the rapid load and offload of stores without entering the surf zone

/2

A lot of security academics who, like most academics, loathe the very idea of BREXIT, see future security threats through that lens. We must concentrate on European security as some sort of penance for leaving the EU. Their bias blinds them to future threats and operating areas They also ignore actual comparative capabilities, basking in the glow of a bygone era, and exuding from every pore the notion that those poor Europeans can't possibly cope with the threat from Russia without the British (reference) Army showing them how its done

A 2 hour long read in summary thread format. Unlike most of my usual content, thought I would have a pop at a proposal for a future British Army.

The post is split into 5 main parts

1/ The introduction asks if British Army leadership acts in a way commensurate with the size and state of the organisation they lead?

2/

The British Army's truck fleet won't last forever, a few thoughts for consideration in a post-2030 future...

1 Extend with MAN (which has modest UK content) or compete for greater UK content and commonality?

Engines; hydrogen, hybrid, battery, or just stay with diesel?

How much is delivered by a PFI, or purchase the lot, or a long-term partnering and replacement programme?

/2

Future Soldier (Bridge and Pallet Chap) ORBAT

This is achievable, requires no massive uplifts in budget or headcount, CS/CSS are in balance, and it has utility across future scenarios (not just one) I sit on the reality end of the ORBAT spectrum

Storm Shadow range is a bit vague, and I think there is some confusion from various people

A thread

1/ Some history

It is based on the Matra Apache, range of 140km

Matra also proposed a 600km range version called Apache C, we didn't buy that

Storm Shadow is actually based on the Anti Structure version of Apache called Apache AI, this had a range of 250km

2/

Here is a conundrum for the aerospace and complex weapons industry

If we can integrate Storm Shadow onto an ex-Soviet aircraft in weeks, why does it cost £130m and years to do the same on Typhoon?

1/ Now before everyone gets their arse in their hand and tries to complexswweaponspain me, yes, I know about risk appetites and software integration, yes, I know about different flight envelopes and safe release testing, but average Joe doesn't

2/

13 years ago I wrote a post titled "CVR(T) – What are we losing?", in which I looked briefly at the transportability and usefulness of CVR(T) outside of its core role of finding things, lamenting its future replacement. Even if Ajax is a great success, I still think the same If you look at TRACER, a blank sheet of paper recce design, it was bigger than CVR(T). Twenty years ago, professional recce soldiers recognised CVR(T) was too small for the day job, so in many ways, Ajax is just an extension of this thinking

CVR(T) MK3 instead of JLTV People make the mistake of positioning the idea of a new build CVRT (or equivalent) against Ajax but for many reasons, a complete non starter. Much better to see it as a utility vehicle like JLTV or even Land Rover, where terrain accessibility is key. Mud and snow for example

The rather clever ATMP flipping trailer. Designed to enable light role and airborne forces to quickly move ammunition pallets off a drop zone, the driver reverses up to a pallet, activates the mechanism to raise and flip the pallet to a stable position, and then drives away Cheap, simple, robust. It could also be fitted with stretcher adaptors to enable two casualties to be moved.

£129 million for 250

suasnews.com/2022/12/129-mi… This quite an interesting case study in many ways. The assurance of fronting with a large non-UK prime (LM) using equipment from a non-UK SME called Procerus Technologies. A previous iteration goes for about $30k

tessco.com/product/lockhe…

The last thread for 2022

Land Precision Strike

1/ Land Precision Strike is the name given to a new requirement for the British Army, and part of the one launcher many payloads approach, closely linked with the Deep Recce Strike (DRS) concept

2/

Some interesting responses to this

1. Most didn't read the other tweets in the thread
2. Jokes about pissing it up the wall
3. Negativity and doctrinaire objections

All are fair enough, but the current system has delivered unto us Ajax and not much else

https://twitter.com/thinkdefence/status/1608572401331101699

Our current system seems to suffocate any innovation at 'grass roots' with process, obsesses about the long term whilst beggaring the short, and spends huge sums on shiny shit that never gets fielded, and never will

We have all seen those images and videos from Ukraine of soldiers in fixed defensive positions being attacked with freefall grenades and mortar bombs from small UAS. Whilst there are obvious C-UAS systems out there, and let's hope the cheque book is being opened for them

1/ But is there a cheap and simple counter? Maybe not perfect, certainly not something to use alone, but probably better than nothing? Apart from more substantial overhead cover and good design of fixed defensive positions, how about netting

2/