Effect of Britain's Defence Cuts

[Armand2REP]

HMS Ark Royal to be Scrapped Immediately along with Harriers

The Royal Navy's flagship aircraft carrier is set to be scrapped amid the Coalition's long-awaited defence cuts, Sky sources have said.

The HMS Ark Royal will be axed "with immediate effect" along with its fleet of Harrier jets, the Prime Minister is expected to confirm later.

David Cameron is also expected to confirm the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent will be delayed, while neither of the new carriers being built can be used by British jets until 2020.

Even then, Sky News understands, one of the new carriers may be 'mothballed' and sold within a few years.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Po...ime_Minister_Outlines_Where_The_Axe_Will_Fall

 

[Armand2REP]

For the next ten years the UK will have just one active carrier, armed with helicopters, with HMS Queen Elizabeth entering service in 2016.

That will leave the UK dependent on the French or Americans to help in the event of a new Falklands crisis over the next decade.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ce-cuts-Trident-hold-years.html#ixzz12lTW07AC

Yeah, we will help them retake the Falklands... in your dreams. lol

 

[Armand2REP]

Aircraft carriers: Timeline

Published Date: 19 October 2010

October 2010 - Ark Royal, the last of the current carriers in service to be mothballed with immediate effect. HMS Ocean, the helicopter carrier, will also be mothballed - the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious will be brought back as a helicopter carrier.
2014 - Crew of Illustrious transfer to new super carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth for sea trials and Illustrious will be decommissioned. HMS Ocean will be brought back into service.

2016 - HMS Queen Elizabeth brought into service as a helicopter carrier and HMS Ocean decommissioned.

2017 - HMS Ocean crew transferred to new super carrier HMS Prince of Wales for sea trials

2019 - HMS Prince of Wales launched as a helicopter carrier and HMS Queen Elizabeth mothballed after four years and never carrying a strike fighter

2020 - HMS Prince of Wales becomes an aircraft carrier with a scaled-down cheaper version of the new joint strike fighters. Its catapult launch system design will also be adapted to allow US and French strike fighters to be launched from it.

http://news.scotsman.com/news/Aircraft-carriers-Timeline.6587726.jp

 

[RAM]

Aircraft carrier HMS Invincible is put up for sale

http://idrw.org/?p=1584

 

[Tshering22]

But being denied sea-aerial superiority for the coming 10 years will be really a big difference. This cutting of defence budget shows that Britain is sinking lower and lower in the list of superpower list and hence in a few years if this continues, UK might have to consider leaving the UNSC permanent seat as it won't be able to push its fading influence on other countries. Instead of focusing on getting 3-4 new carriers at the same time, UK should have focused on keeping its fighters airborne through continuing R&D on the possible development of Sea Typhoon that it is doing for our N-MRCA.

 

[civfanatic]

But being denied sea-aerial superiority for the coming 10 years will be really a big difference. This cutting of defence budget shows that Britain is sinking lower and lower in the list of superpower list and hence in a few years if this continues, UK might have to consider leaving the UNSC permanent seat as it won't be able to push its fading influence on other countries. Instead of focusing on getting 3-4 new carriers at the same time, UK should have focused on keeping its fighters airborne through continuing R&D on the possible development of Sea Typhoon that it is doing for our N-MRCA.

Britain lost its superpower status in 1947, when they lost the "Jewel in the Crown". Britain today is nothing more than unpleasant reminder of the Old World order.

Despite their insiginficance in the modern global economy and world order, the Brits are still extremely arrogant and vastly overestimate their own importance. They will never give up their UNSC seat, as their egos are too big for that.

Also, is the Sea Typhoon even under development? I had not heard anything about that...