British Armed Forces Thread

[HMS Astute]

F-35B during the interoperability test with the F-18 Hornets

US Marines' unique warbird joins HMS Bulwark during major Gulf exercise
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Royal Marines were carried into 'battle' by a new steed when they tried out the US Marine Corps' stunning Osprey as Britain's task group trained with the Americans and Kuwaitis in the Gulf. For the first time the helicopter-cum-aircraft set down on the deck of Britain's flagship, HMS Bulwark during Exercise Cougar Voyage as UK and US amphibious task forces linked up.

Bulwark is heading the UK Response Force Task Group on its annual Cougar deployment involving 3 Commando Brigade, while USS Makin Island is the flagship of Amphibious Squadron 5 and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Three times the size of HMS Bulwark, the 42,000-tonne Wasp-class assault ship is the home to a dozen Ospreys – the world's first tilt-rotor aircraft, it can land, take off and hover like a helicopter, then can fly like a traditional propeller-driven aircraft at speeds over 300mph and heights above 25,000ft once airborne.​

 

[HMS Astute]

Loading a Sea King Helicopter onto a RAF C17 for Return to UK From Afghanistan

Joint Movements Unit (JMU) personnel work slowly and carefully to load a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter onto an RAF C17 aircraft to be sent back to the UK. With the end of Operation Herrick near the Sea King was no longer required in Afghanistan. JMU staff were kept very busy sending kit and equipment back to the UK for future, as it became surplus to requirements in Afghanistan. On 18 Jul 14, Joint Movements Unit (JMU) personnel began removing the last two Sea King Helicopters from Afghanistan. The helicopters are no longer required on Operation Herrick and will be returned to the UK in an RAF C17 aircraft. The Sea King is a very snug fit in the cargo hold of the C17 and requires very slow and precise loading to ensure that neither aircraft is damaged.

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[HMS Astute]

HMS Dragon leaves Portsmouth on deployment

Portsmouth-based warship HMS Dragon sailed today on a routine seven-month Atlantic Patrol Tasking. Less than a year after she returned from operations in the Gulf and Eastern Mediterranean the Type 45 destroyer will take over from HMS Iron Duke to continue the UK's commitment to the region building on the UK's strong ties with its allies. During her time away Dragon will visit several ports in the South Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as visiting a number of West African States to build on UK relationships.

Gallipoli gunboat to open to the public for centenary commemorations

The only surviving British ship from the Gallipoli campaign will be opened to the public for the first time for the battle's 100th anniversary. Monitor HMS M33 once shelled Turkish positions in the Dardanelles during the ill-fated campaign to advance up the peninsula, seize Constantinople and knock the Ottoman Empire out of World War 1.

Gallipoli gunboat to open to the public for centenary commemorations | Royal Navy​

 

[HMS Astute]

Sea King Mk4 Trains with French Navy's FS Dixmude

A Sea King Mk4 from 845 Naval Air Squadron of the Commando Helicopter Force seized a rare opportunity to visit and train with the French Naval Ship, FS Dixmude. This provided an excellent opening to exercise UK/FR interoperability, with both the UK and France having key roles to play in leading and shaping the defence and security of Europe.

Sea King Mk4 Trains with French Navy's FS Dixmude | Naval Today​

 

[HMS Astute]

Longest Sniper Shot In The World By A British Soldier On The Taliban

]The current record is held by British sniper Corporal of Horse (CoH) Craig Harrison, who recorded a 2,475 m (2,707 yd) shot in November 2009 also during in the War in Afghanistan; in which he shot two static machine gunners consecutively. Confirmed by GPS, Craig Harrison (UK) of the UK's Household Cavalry killed two Taliban insurgents from a distance of 2,474 metres (2,706 yd; 1.537 mi) in November 2009.[/SIZE]

 

[HMS Astute]

The rifle used by Craig Harrison for this world's longest sniper shot.

Happy hunting!

British and French snipers during exercise.

 

[HMS Astute]

Royal Marines, Royal Marine Veterans and Royal Marine Cadets stood to attention during the Royal Marines 350 Anniversary parade at the Guildhall in the City of London. The Royal Marines 1664 Challenge comes to and end as they pass the baton on during a parade in London.

Lockheed Martin Opens Space Technology Office in United Kingdom

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] is opening a space technology office in Great Britain to explore partnership opportunities with UK businesses and universities to support the UK's goal of maintaining and growing its national capabilities in space. Forming part of Lockheed Martin's expanding business footprint in the UK, the office will be based at the UK Space Gateway in Harwell Oxford.

For more than 50 years Lockheed Martin has led the way in the development of spacecraft that have helped scientists understand our planet. The new office will expand the company's relationships with the UK supply chain to share technology and expertise, and will support UK-based capabilities in space exploration and access. It will also explore new technologies from small businesses and academia. Current areas of focus include environmental monitoring, space exploration, global security and small communications satellites.

Lockheed Martin Opens Space Technology Office in United Kingdom · Lockheed Martin​

 

[HMS Astute]

HMS Kent's ships company follow in commandos' footsteps to the top of the Rock

Anything Superman and the Royal Marines can do, so too can the pirate-busters of HMS Kent. Just a couple of days after commandos ran to the top of the Rock of Gibraltar in company with Man of Steel Henry Cavill to celebrate their 350th birthday, sailors from the Portsmouth frigate jogged the 2.7 miles from the naval base to the summit of the iconic rock, 1,250ft above sea level. Two fifths of the ship's company, 77 men and women, set off at 6.30am with the first strains of light touching the British Overseas Territory. And several minutes later all 77 were on the peak – no-one dropped out.

BAE Systems develops "Smart Skin" for aircraft

Work is underway at BAE Systems to give aircraft human-like 'skin', enabling the detection of injury or damage and the ability to 'feel' the world around them. Engineers at our Advanced Technology Centre are investigating a 'smart skin' concept which could be embedded with tens of thousands of micro-sensors. When applied to an aircraft, this will enable it to sense wind speed, temperature, physical strain and movement, far more accurately than current sensor technology allows.

This research is part of a range of new systems we are investigating under a major programme exploring next-generation technology for air platforms.

Aircraft set to become more human as engineers develop smart skins which can detect injury - BAE Systems

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[HMS Astute]

Preparing for Future Combat Aerospace

Unmanned stealth bomber/fighter aircraft with global combat missions capability.

Preparing for the Future of Combat Aerospace - BAE Systems

 

[HMS Astute]

First batch of the British Army Challenger II arrives in Poland