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Just heard that the RN is going to buy the F-18 , in regards to the F-35. Lots of news about this online, thought I would mention it. A F-18F SuperHornet in RN colors......saweeeeeet.

starlifterfan wrote:Just heard that the RN is going to buy the F-18 , in regards to the F-35. Lots of news about this online, thought I would mention it. A F-18F SuperHornet in RN colors......saweeeeeet.

Well it's certainly an exciting idea, and I can see the logic behind it, but what about carriers? We don't have any catapult carriers and to build/or purchase them would cost a bloody fortune.

I'll be interested to see if this holds any truth. Rumour is rife on PPRUNE and AARSE, and has reportedly been reported in the sunday times too.

Nick

This could be just a rumor. But interesting .

May be the V/STOL F-35 is getting the chop from the UK shopping list. Its bloody expensive for what it is! And I think it can't carry the RAF's 2000lb bomb in the weapons bay.

Re the new Queen Elizabeth Class carriers:

"No catapult or arresters will be fitted in the initial build but the carrier will be built to accommodate a future back-fit. The carrier will be fitted with a steam catapult or electromagnetic launch system and arrester gear, if the option to convert the carrier to the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant proceeds." So it looks like the F-18 option was built into the project from the start. The new Minister of Defence was on TV recently and he said that "the UK Foreign Office wants "power projection" and only carriers can do that". So the carriers look safe

The hulls aren't ready yet so plenty of time to modify the deck. And the RAF would have to have them too if the F-35 goes. I'd love to see a F-18 in RAF / RN colours though!

Just wondering, when will the USN get its F-35C? I read it would 2014, is it still on time? May be the UK will be buying their old F-18s for the the new carriers. The time line seems to be right as the two carriers are expected to enter service in 2016 and 2018.

VulcanDriver wrote:I'd love to see a F-18 in RAF / RN colours though!

God me too it would be amazing. Makes me sad I've left even more now.,

Nick

nickblack423 wrote:

VulcanDriver wrote:I'd love to see a F-18 in RAF / RN colours though!

God me too it would be amazing. Makes me sad I've left even more now.,

Nick

Missing the mob, Nick? One of the guys at work has re-enlisted this year as an a/c tech. Funny my Dad regretted leaving the RAF in 1946, and despite serving throughout WW2 he always said it was the best time of his life!

nickblack423 wrote:

VulcanDriver wrote:I'd love to see a F-18 in RAF / RN colours though!

God me too it would be amazing. Makes me sad I've left even more now.,

Nick

Looks like the VRS SuperBug will be undergoing a repaint!

Maybe its really that we are selling the Carriers to the Aussies, to save even more money.

Firebird wrote:Maybe its really that we are selling the Carriers to the Aussies, to save even more money.

Could be better, sell them to us Canadians

Before you get too excited, I'd wait until a formal announcement before believing any spin through the press from someone trying to up the ante.

At the moment the three services are vying behind the scenes for the top dog position in advance of any spending cuts.

Any purchase of F-18s is likely to come on the back of the loss of the Tornado or Harrier fleets, if anything happens at all.

This can't be a pure coincidence surely?

http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jni/j ... _1_n.shtml

nickblack423 wrote: Well it's certainly an exciting idea, and I can see the logic behind it, but what about carriers? We don't have any catapult carriers and to build/or purchase them would cost a bloody fortune.

Wall, Australia has got Super Hornets as well, and they don't have any carrier!

james84 wrote:

nickblack423 wrote: Well it's certainly an exciting idea, and I can see the logic behind it, but what about carriers? We don't have any catapult carriers and to build/or purchase them would cost a bloody fortune.

Wall, Australia has got Super Hornets as well, and they don't have any carrier!

Oz airforce has F-18's. Airforce don't need no carrier, Navy does, especially when we're talking force projection. No point in having multi million pound aircraft dicking about around somerset, that's what the RAF is for.