British Armed Forces Thread

[HMS Astute]

Black Hornet Nano

The Black Hornet Nano is a military micro unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Prox Dynamics AS of Norway, and in use by the British Army.

The unit measures around 10 × 2.5 cm (4 × 1 in) and provides troops on the ground with local situational awareness. They are small enough to fit in one hand and weigh just over half an ounce (16 g, including batteries). The UAV is equipped with a camera, which gives the operator full-motion video and still images. The aircraft are being used by soldiers from the UK's Brigade Reconnaissance Force at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan. Operation Herrick personnel in Afghanistan deploy the Black Hornet from the front line to fly into enemy territory to take video and still images before returning to the operator.

Designed to blend in with the muddy grey walls in Afghanistan, it has been used to look around corners or over walls and other obstacles to identify any hidden dangers and enemy positions. The images are displayed on a small handheld terminal, which can be used by the operator to control the UAV.

As of 25 October 2013, the British Army has 324 Hornet Nanos in service.

 

[HMS Astute]

Desert Hawk 3 UAS

A soldier from the Royal Artillery prepares to launch the Desert Hawk 3 UAS (Unmanned Air System) over Salisbury Plain during a training exercise.

Desert Hawk is an extremely versatile and small Unmanned Aerial System designed for discrete operations. It is operated normally at the company level but is equally well employed above and below this. It has an extremely good record proven over the last year and is currently supporting 16 Air Assault Brigade in Afghanistan. It provides an excellent 'over the hill' view for commanders on the ground.

 

[HMS Astute]

Red Arrows

 

[HMS Astute]

Red Arrows

 

[HMS Astute]

ScanEagle

ScanEagle is a small, low-cost, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It is catapulted off the back of ships and then recovered by flying them back to be caught by a wire extended over the side.

 

[HMS Astute]

First Fusiliers hone infantry skills at STANTA. Soldiers from Y and W Companies, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers have been honing their dismounted infantry skills during a two-week field firing battle camp in Thetford, Norfolk. As well as training up to platoon and company strength live attacks by day and night, the Fusiliers have also been firing the new Glock pistol and training on the latest infantry thermal imagery sighting systems.

Foxhound is at the cutting edge of protected patrol vehicle technology, providing unprecedented levels of blast protection for its size and weight. Featuring blast survivability close to that of a Mastiff - and just a little bigger than the Snatch Land Rover it replaces – the Foxhound is ideally suited for manoeuvring around the narrow backstreets of Helmand's towns and villages. Weighing in at six tones, it has a top speed of 70mph and can do 0-50mph in just 19 seconds. Four-wheel steering makes it extra agile, with a 40ft turning circle.

 

[HMS Astute]

Exercise PRAIRIE STORM

Soldiers of 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh (1 R WELSH) have conducted top-up training for Lead Armoured Battle Group (LABG) sub-units on the first exercise of the season at the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) in Southern Alberta, Canada. Attached to the 1 R WELSH battlegroup was the Right Flank, Scots Guards, half of B Squadron, the Kings Royal Hussars and B Company, 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry - a mechanised infantry unit using third-generation light armoured vehicles. Exercise PRAIRIE STORM focussed on sub-unit training and consisted of three phases over the course of three weeks.

Introducing the Jackal to it's new role. A Squadron The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards have been out for the first time in their Jackal vehicles on Hohne Training Area. As part of the move to A2020 the SCOTS DG are now Light Cavalry giving them the manouevrabliity on the battlefield as part of the Adaptable Force. The low level exercise was designed to introduce the soldiers to the skills required when operating on the Jackal and to rehearse the drills required for contingency operations. The exercise will form the basis of the Regimental Standard Operating Procedures. Photographer - SSgt Mark Nesbit RLC (Army Photographer)

Troops and armour from 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Wales

 

[HMS Astute]

F-35B Lightning II

One of the United Kingdom F-35B Lightning II 5th generation aircraft is silhouetted at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, USA in the early morning sun, prior to the day's training sorties. Personnel from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force were at Eglin AFB familiarising themselves with F-35 air and ground procedures.

The F-35B Lightning II will place the UK at the forefront of fighter technology, giving the Royal Air Force a true multi-role all weather, day and night capability, able to operate from well-established land bases, deployed locations or the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers.

 

[HMS Astute]

BAE Systems

Hyper Volocity Projectiles. The HVP is a next-generation, common, low drag, guided projectile capable of completing multiple missions for gun systems such as the Navy 5-Inch, 155-mm, and future railguns. Types of missions performed will depend on gun system and platform. The program goal is to address mission requirements in the areas of Naval Surface Fire Support , Cruise Missile Defense, Anti-Surface Warfare and other future Naval mission areas. Mission performance will vary from gun system, launcher or ship. HVP's low drag aerodynamic design enables high-velocity, maneuverability and decreased time-to-target. These attributes coupled with accurate guidance electronics provide low-cost mission effectiveness against current threats and the ability to adapt to air and surface threats of the future.

Archerfish Mine Neutralization System. Archerfish is an expendable mine neutraliser or single shot mine disposal system. It is capable of overcoming the threat of modern mines which have become increasingly resistant to traditional methods of mine disposal.

LRLAP, 5" Standard Guided Projectile, 5" Standard Guided Saboted Projectile, and Advanced Precision Kill Weapon (APKWSâ„¢) System

Electromagnetic Railgun. Capable of hurling projectiles at an incredible 5,400mph, high-energy electromagnetic railguns, long a staple of science fiction, promise to revolutionize warfare.

Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System

Our Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV)

Back view of the M109A6 PIM vehicle

BAE Systems-led Technology Development (TD) phase JLTV - The Valanx

 

[HMS Astute]

BAE Systems-led Technology Development (TD) phase JLTV - The Valanx

RG PROTECTOR MINE PROTECTED ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER. Utilisation of a total commercial drive train, makes this an extremely affordable vehicle. The RG Protector, in the 6x6 configuration, can seat up to 18 crew members.

BAE Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer cockpit

Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM)
The Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM) system is the most reliable laser-based, directable countermeasures system in combat service today, protecting helicopters against attack by infrared-guided missiles.

New upgraded Warriors on a live firing exercise at Castlemartin (UK)
Newly upgraded Warrior vehicles take part in a live firing exercise with the Mercian Armoured Infantry Company, at Castlemartin in the United Kingdom. Following the exercise, the modified and up-armored Warriors were deployed into Afghanistan with troops from the Mercian regiment. The Warrior is the only tracked infantry vehicle in theatre and so can get to places that wheeled vehicles cannot, enabling the infantry to engage the enemy more effectively in difficult terrain.

The CV90 with Adaptive Armour installed. ADAPTIV – A UNIQUE CAMOUFLAGE SYSTEM

 

[HMS Astute]

The Demon is a UAV designed by BAE Systems, as part of its "FLAVIIR" project. It has a novel aerodynamic control system which uses engine exhaust and bleed air to provide the aerodynamic forces usually provided by flaps, ailerons and elevators.[1] It has been called the world's first "flapless" plane.

The BAE Systems HERTI is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by the British company BAE Systems. HERTI stands for "High Endurance Rapid Technology Insertion" and was developed in Warton, United Kingdom. The HERTI airframe is based on a motor glider designed by Jaroslaw Janowski of J&AS Aero Design. Its first flight was in December 2004 at the Australian Woomera test range where much of the test flight programme has been undertaken. HERTI was also the first UAV to fly in the UK with the flight being certified by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority.

A piece of Queen Elizabeth Class supercarrier.

The Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) is a British intelligence and security agency responsible for providing signals intelligence (SIGINT) and information assurance to the British government and armed forces. Based in "The Doughnut", in the suburbs of Cheltenham, it operates under the formal direction of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) alongside the Security Service (MI5), the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and Defence Intelligence (DI). GCHQ is the responsibility of the UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, but it is not a part of the Foreign Office and its Director ranks as a Permanent Secretary.

 

[HMS Astute]

Watchkeeper is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for all weather, Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR). Watchkeeper provides enhanced UAV capability that will enable commanders to detect and track targets for long periods, without the need to deploy troops into potentially sensitive or dangerous areas. The system is capable of rapid deployment and operations anywhere in the world and will support the information requirements of all three services.

Ships of Op Recsyr Removing Chemical Weapons from Syria. Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose (bottom right) takes formation with other ships from Norway and Denmark as part of Operation Recsyr (REmoval of Chemical weapons from SYRia) near Cyprus in February 2014. The operation is a crucial step in the international mission to eliminate the chemical weapons programme of the Syrian Arab Republic by June 2014.

Type 23 HMS Montrose's Lynx helicopter dips her nose toward the ship during escort duties for Operation Recysr in the Mediterranean Sea.

Type 23 frigate HMS Monmouth's Merlin helicopter is pictured over the warship during an exercise in the Middle East. Fifteen deck landings were conducted by by the pilots who were serving with 829 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose.

The Royal Air Force's Queen's Colour Squadron (QCS) lines up in front of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Lancaster aircraft following a sunset ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the famous Dambusters raid. On the 16th May 1943 Lancaster bombers and crews from 617 Squadron, known as the 'Dambusters' took off from the Lincolnshire airfield to carry out a series of raids on German dams.

 

[HMS Astute]

Officer Cadets march past the front of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) Old College, followed by instructors and the College Adjutant on horseback. The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Surrey is where all officers in the British Army are trained to take on the responsibilities of leading the soldiers under their command.

A Challenger 2 tank on Castlemartin Ranges in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The newly amalgamated Royal Tank Regiment exercised Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks on Castlemartin Ranges for the first time since its reformation.

Chinook helicopters from18 (B) Squadron practising desert operations during Exercise Vortex Warrior.18 (B) Sqn are based at Royal Air Force Odiham, Hampshire. The exercise is being conducted at US Naval Air Facility, El Centro, in Southern California. The purpose of the intense training programme is to exploit similarities in climate and desert conditions between California and Afghanistan in order to prepare the Squadron pilots, aircrew, ground crew, and support personnel for imminent deployed operations.

A Royal Air Force Hercules C-130J transport tanker aircraft sits on the tarmac at Mount Pleasant Airfield in the Falkland Islands. The full passenger and cargo capability can be used while Voyager is configured for AAR operations. The cabin remains fully configured and the cargo compartments are unobstructed. On a typical deployment across the Atlantic, a single aircraft is able to refuel 4 Tornados and still carry 11,000lb (5000kg) of freight/passengers.

A Royal Air Force Voyager transport tanker aircraft sits on the tarmac at Mount Pleasant Airfield in the Falkland Islands. The full passenger and cargo capability can be used while Voyager is configured for AAR operations. The cabin remains fully configured and the cargo compartments are unobstructed. On a typical deployment across the Atlantic, a single aircraft is able to refuel 4 Tornados and still carry 11,000lb (5000kg) of freight/passengers.

A Royal Air Force Voyager passenger transport aircraft pictured at RAF Brize Norton on its return the UK with troops from Afghanistan.

Royal Navy Vanguard Class submarine HMS Vigilant returning to HMNB Clyde after her extended deployment. The four Vanguard-class submarines form the UK's strategic nuclear deterrent force. Each of the the four boats is armed with Trident 2 D5 nuclear missiles. Like all submarines the Vanguard Class are steam powered, their reactors converting water into steam to drive the engines and generate electricity.

Royal Navy's Next Gen Nuclear Powered Strategic Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN)

 

[HMS Astute]

Type 45 Advanced Air Defence Destroyers ($1.8bn per unit)

Type 45 Air Defender and BAE Systems built Khareef-class corvette of the Royal Navy of Oman.

Four Type 45 class Destroyers together in Portsmouth before they begin 6 months deployment in the Middle East.

Nimrod Maritime Patrol Aircraft shadowing HMS Daring.

HMS Dauntless on duty in the Med sea.

HMS Diamond escorting the Nimitz class aircraft carrier as part of the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) in the Persian Sea

 

[HMS Astute]

HMS Illustrious Hands Over to HMS Ocean

In a symbolic gesture the UK's outgoing helicopter carrier has handed over duties to her successor. In the waters off the south coast HMS Illustrious and HMS Ocean met this morning (Tuesday, 22 July) and the baton of protecting the nation's interests handed between the two. The two ships steamed side by side, in the company of the frigate HMS Lancaster, to conduct the ceremonial handing over of their duties. HMS Illustrious then peeled away with HMS Lancaster escorting her on her final entry into Portsmouth. HMS Ocean will now go forward as the Royal Navy's helicopter landing platform and HMS Illustrious will be retired after 32 years of service.

 

[HMS Astute]

HMS Prince of Wales (72,000 tons) 2nd Queen Elizabeth Class Carrier.

BAE Systems has delivered a large section of hull for the UK Royal Navy's second Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, to Rosyth, UK, for the final assembly of the vessel. Claimed to be heavier than the complete Type-45 destroyer, the lower block 03 will form the mid-section of the aircraft carrier's hull, from the keel to the hangar deck. BAE Systems programme director Iain Stevenson said: "This delivery is a significant milestone in the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier programme and marks the beginning of HMS Prince of Wales taking shape.

"The same section for HMS Queen Elizabeth was delivered just three years ago and it's now a seamless part of the UK's largest ever warship, so there is huge momentum behind the delivery of the second ship as we embark on the assembly phase once again." Upon the anticipated structural completion by July 2016, Prince of Wales will start sea trials in January 2019, followed by acceptance in August of the same year.

The latest move comes within a month after the first aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth was christened, and days after the ship had been successfully floated and undocked. Delivered by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, an initiative involving BAE Systems, Thales UK, Babcock and the UK Ministry of Defence, both vessels will be the centrepiece of United Kingdom's defence capability for the 21st century. The two 300m-long and 74m-wide vessels will boost sustained operations and can ferry an air wing of up to 40 aircraft (50 full load), in addition to AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin HM2 multi-role rotorcraft and Merlin HC4 amphibious support helicopters.

 

[HMS Astute]

HMS Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carrier.

The UK's largest ever warship, HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, has been successfully floated out of the dock in which she was assembled.

In an operation that started earlier this week, the dry dock in Rosyth near Edinburgh was flooded for the first time to allow the 72,000 tonne aircraft carrier to float. It then took only three hours this morning to carefully manoeuvre HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH out of the dock with just two metres clearance at either side and then berth her alongside a nearby jetty.

Teams will now continue to outfit the ship and steadily bring her systems to life in preparation for sea trials in 2016. The dock she vacates will be used for final assembly of her sister ship, HMS PRINCE OF WALES, which will begin in September. The float out of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH comes just 13 days after the vessel was named by Her Majesty the Queen in a spectacular ceremony.

 

[HMS Astute]

Taranis has successfully completed a second phase of flight testing

Together with the UK Ministry of Defence (UK MOD) we have today revealed that Taranis, the Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle demonstrator, has successfully completed a second phase of flight testing. Taranis - the most advanced aircraft ever built by British engineers - flew in a fully 'stealthy' configuration, making it virtually invisible to radar during this latest set of trials. Taranis is a stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle, designed to fly intercontinental missions, and will carry variety of precision missiles/bombs, enabling it to attack both aerial and ground targets. It is also capable of detecting, identifying and selecting the targets automatically by it's self. It will utilise stealth technology, giving it a low radar profile, and it will be controllable via satellite link from anywhere on Earth.

In order to achieve an unprecedented level of stealth, the team changed all antennas on the aircraft to signature control variants and the air data boom on the nose of Taranis was removed. Following these modifications Taranis used a specially-designed system which allowed the aircraft to generate a full set of flight data, without the use of an external probe or boom. Taranis also used a cutting edge communications system to ensure it was able to stay in touch with its mission commander without giving away its position to the enemy.

Taranis also used a cutting edge communications system to ensure it was able to stay in touch with its mission commander without giving away its position to the enemy. Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Philip Dunne said: "The success of these test flights is an important milestone for the Taranis project. We are gaining vital insights into the potential of unmanned aircraft and this knowledge will shape future capabilities and help reduce the risks faced by military personnel on the frontline. I am determined to continue investing in these world-leading projects to show us the future, today."

 

[HMS Astute]

An Apache helicopter takes off from HMS Illustrious. A seaborne exercise saw Apache helicopters from 664 Squadron, Army Air Corps, carry out deck landing practice onboard HMS ILLUSTRIOUS recently. They embarked for a two week training package to enable pilots and ground crews to acclimatise to working in a maritime environment.

A British Army WAH-64 'Apache' attack helicopter fires a salvo of CRV7 (Practise) rockets at targets down range. Army Air Corps Apache pilots from 651 (AHF) Squadron based in Middle Wallop, Hampshire attended a two-day live firing exercise at Lulworth Ranges/Bovington Camp in Dorset. The aim of the exercise was to qualify the pilots as instructors so they can teach future pilots in core Apache skills.

The Apache helicopters from 656 Squadron 4 Regiment Army Air Corps joined Illustrious in the waters off the United Arab Emirates as she took part in Exercise Sea Khanjar before then returning to the UK.

 

[HMS Astute]

Exercise Red Flag 2014

Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft from the UK's Royal Air Force are at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada this month to take part in one of the world's leading air-to-air combat training exercises which begins this week. Red Flag is the United States Air Force's premier air-to-air combat training event. Participants typically include both US and allied nations' combat air forces. The exercise gives pilots the experience of multiple, intensive air sorties in the safety of a training environment.