Latest news with #F-35BLightnings
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The UK's 'missile of the future' for its F-35s has been delayed again
The UK's SPEAR 3 air-to-surface cruise missile is facing further delays. The UK MOD called the missile, designed for F-35B Lightnings, the "cruise missile of the future." But its expected timeline for in-service capability has been pushed to the early 2030s. The UK's new missile, which its defense ministry has called the "cruise missile of the future," has been further delayed. The SPEAR 3 air-to-surface cruise missile is intended for use by F-35B Lightnings in both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. Its manufacturer, European multinational MBDA, says it will be the "primary air launched, precision effects, surface attack weapon" of the RAF. But the missile's expected timeline for in-service capability has now been pushed back to the early 2030s, Maria Eagle, the UK's minister of state for defense procurement and industry, said. In response to an opposition lawmaker, Eagle said the weapon program was "undergoing re-baselining," which means its progress is being reconsidered. She said that a Review Note was expected toward the end of 2025, and "until that is approved, dates are considered draft and of low confidence." "The estimated current timeline for in-service capability is expected to be early 2030s," she added. This represents another in a series of delays for the project. The missiles were once expected to be integrated by 2025, which was then pushed back to the last quarter of 2028. The SPEAR 3 missile was successfully launched from an aircraft for the first time last year, the RAF said. It was launched by a Eurofighter Typhon jet in a test over Sweden. The RAF described the SPEAR missile as "a next generation turbojet-powered miniature cruise missile," to be used by both Royal Air Force and Royal Navy pilots. It said each F-35B will be able to carry up to eight SPEAR missiles at a time. The UK chose to develop its own cruise missile with MBDA after considering purchasing an available model from US defense company Raytheon. The RAF said the missiles can hit targets at a distance of 62 miles, and MBDA said they will be effective against naval vessels, main battle tanks, ballistic missile launchers, and fast-moving vehicles, among other targets. The missile also has a semi-active laser mode, which allows operators to designate a target using a laser, which the missile's seeker then follows. Gustav Gressel, a missile expert at the National Defence Academy of the Austrian Armed Forces, described the latest SPEAR delay as part of a pattern. "Aircraft armament in Europe, unfortunately, is a story of delays and cost overruns," he told Business Insider. The UK has purchased 48 F-35Bs, made by Lockheed Martin, for use by both its air force and navy, though not all have been delivered. It intends to buy a total of 138 jets, though some reports have suggested that number could be reassessed amid cost concerns. Some countries have said they are reconsidering their commitment to the F-35, as the US distances itself from longtime allies and amid speculation the US could make the jets ineffective by removing critical support. But a UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson told Business Insider in March that the UK "maintains the freedom of action to operate the F-35 Lightning at a time and place of our choosing." The RAF described SPEAR last year as part of a portfolio that supports $8.7 billion of planned investment in the UK weapons industry by the MOD over the next decade. It said this included Brimstone, CAMM, Sea Viper, Sea Venom, and Storm Shadow. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
The UK's 'missile of the future' for its F-35s has been delayed again
The UK's new missile, which its defense ministry has called the "cruise missile of the future," has been further delayed. The SPEAR 3 air-to-surface cruise missile is intended for use by F-35B Lightnings in both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. Its manufacturer, European multinational MBDA, says it will be the "primary air launched, precision effects, surface attack weapon" of the RAF. But the missile's expected timeline for in-service capability has now been pushed back to the early 2030s, Maria Eagle, the UK's minister of state for defense procurement and industry, said. In response to an opposition lawmaker, Eagle said theweapon program was "undergoing re-baselining," which means its progress is being reconsidered. She said that a Review Note was expected toward the end of 2025, and "until that is approved, dates are considered draft and of low confidence." "The estimated current timeline for in-service capability is expected to be early 2030s," she added. This represents another in a series of delays for the project. The missiles were once expected to be integrated by 2025, which was then pushed back to the last quarter of 2028. The SPEAR 3 missile was successfully launched from an aircraft for the first time last year, the RAF said. It was launched by a Eurofighter Typhon jet in a test over Sweden. The RAF described the SPEAR missile as "a next generation turbojet-powered miniature cruise missile," to be used by both Royal Air Force and Royal Navy pilots. It said each F-35B will be able to carry up to eight SPEAR missiles at a time. The UK chose to develop its own cruise missile with MBDA after considering purchasing an available model from US defense company Raytheon. The RAF said the missiles can hit targets at a distance of 62 miles, and MBDA said they will be effective against naval vessels, main battle tanks, ballistic missile launchers, and fast-moving vehicles, among other targets. The missile also has a semi-active laser mode, which allows operators to designate a target using a laser, which the missile's seeker then follows. Gustav Gressel, a missile expert at the National Defence Academy of the Austrian Armed Forces, described the latest SPEAR delay as part of a pattern. "Aircraft armament in Europe, unfortunately, is a story of delays and cost overruns," he told Business Insider. The UK has purchased 48 F-35Bs, made by Lockheed Martin, for use by both its air force and navy, though not all have been delivered. It intends to buy a total of 138 jets, though some reports have suggested that number could be reassessed amid cost concerns. Some countries have said they are reconsidering their commitment to the F-35, as the US distances itself from longtime allies and amid speculation the US could make the jets ineffective by removing critical support. But a UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson told Business Insider in March that the UK "maintains the freedom of action to operate the F-35 Lightning at a time and place of our choosing." The RAF described SPEAR last year as part of a portfolio that supports $8.7 billion of planned investment in the UK weapons industry by the MOD over the next decade. It said this included Brimstone, CAMM, Sea Viper, Sea Venom, and Storm Shadow.
Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Daily Mail
How can I see the Red Arrows' iconic flypast? When and where planes will be visible over Britain's skies
A spectacular flypast featuring some of the Royal Air Force 's most iconic aircraft will take place today to mark 80 years since the Second World War ended in Europe. The display involving the Red Arrows and a score of historic and current military aircraft will be the culmination of a military procession through London at 1.45pm. But the public will also get the chance to see some of the aircraft elsewhere as they will go over parts of Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Surrey and Hampshire. Planes involved in tensions with Russia will be involved, including P8 Poseidons, which conduct reconnaissance missions surveying Russian vessels near UK waters. Voyager aircraft which deliver equipment to Ukrainian forces and fly Ukrainian recruits to the UK for training will be part of the flypast over Buckingham Palace. Crowds gathered below on The Mall will also get to see Typhoon fast jets, which are a key part of Nato Air Policing, and fifth generation F-35 Lightning fighters. The flypast will follow a route from holding patterns across South East England before converging in formation over London, where the Royal Family will be watching. The Red Arrows will take off from RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire at 1.05pm before heading out the coast off Boston and travelling along the North Norfolk coast. They will stay near the coast down towards Suffolk before turning back inland near Aldeburgh and heading into Essex over Colchester and Chelmsford. The planes will fly over Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford before passing over Buckingham Palace and then out of the capital over South West London. Continuing their journey over the Surrey Hills, the planes will then head towards Hampshire before finishing at Bournemouth Airport at about 2.05pm. The flypast will take place after armed forces from Nato allies will join a military procession through London, featuring personnel from the US, France and Germany. The words of Sir Winston Churchill's 1945 victory speech, spoken by Timothy Spall, will begin the commemorations as hundreds of street parties are held elsewhere. Thousands of people are expected to line the streets of London to hear the performance of Churchill's speech and take in the procession and flypast. The five-minute flypast will involve 23 military aircraft which are expected to fly directly down The Mall from Admiralty Arch in six waves. The first aircraft to appear will be a Lancaster bomber operated by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – followed by the Voyager and A400M Atlas. The C-17 Globemaster will be next, then the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, two Typhoon FGR4s, a Rivet Joint and two F-35B Lightnings. The final wave will involve the Red Arrows made up of nine Hawk jets and four more F-35B Lightnings. The flypast and other events today will start the build-up to this Thursday - May 8 - which marks exactly 80 years since the Allies formally accepted Germany's surrender. The King, Queen and other members of the royal family are looking forward to all the week's VE Day events, a Palace aide said. 'They will unite with the rest of the nation and those across the Commonwealth and wider world in celebrating, commemorating and giving thanks to the wartime generation whose selfless devotion duty and service should stand as an enduring example to us all - and must never be forgotten.' Sir Keir Starmer said the stories we will hear this week from those who fought are a reminder that 'our victory was not just for Britain'. 'It was also a victory for good against the assembled forces of hatred, tyranny and evil. 'VE Day is a chance to acknowledge, again, that our debt to those who achieved it can never fully be repaid,' the Prime Minister said in an open letter to veterans. Alan Kennett, a 100-year-old Normandy veteran, will start the procession involving more than 1,300 members of the armed forces and youth groups. They are set to march down Whitehall, through Admiralty Arch and up The Mall towards Buckingham Palace. The Nato detachment, which will also include personnel from Poland, Lithuania and Sweden, will march in the procession wearing the uniforms of their respective nations under the Nato flag. Representatives of the Ukrainian military, selected from the UK armed forces' training programme for Ukrainian recruits Operation Interflex, will also take part. The Cenotaph will be dressed in Union flags. The procession begins after Mr Kennett receives the Commonwealth War Graves' Torch For Peace by air cadet Warrant Officer Emmy Jones. The King, Queen, Sir Keir and Second World War veterans will be on a platform on the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. Members of the royal family are later expected to make an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the RAF flypast. Following Queen Elizabeth II's death in 2022, this year will be the first landmark VE Day commemoration without any of the royals who stood on the balcony that day. In 1945, large crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace to catch a glimpse of King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. The young Princess Elizabeth sneaked out into the streets to join the celebrating crowds and later spoke of being swept up in a 'tide of happiness and relief'. Street parties will be held in towns and cities across the UK as part of the special events - including community tea parties, 1940s dress-up events, and gatherings aboard Second World War warships. Local authorities throughout the country have offered support for communities and organisations wishing to hold a VE Day street party, with some councils such as Portsmouth waiving fees to close roads for the celebrations. The Palace of Westminster, the Shard, Lowther Castle in Penrith, Manchester Printworks, Cardiff Castle and Belfast City Hall are among hundreds of buildings which will be lit up from 9pm tomorrow. A new display of almost 30,000 ceramic poppies at the Tower of London is also set to form another touching tribute. The poppies have been set to resemble a wound to reflect the long-lasting sacrifices made during the war. A service at Westminster Abbey will begin with a national two-minute silence of reflection and remembrance on Thursday, where veterans will be part of the congregation. Horse Guards Parade will then hold a live celebratory concert to round off the commemorations. Pubs and bars have also been granted permission to stay open for longer to mark the anniversary. Venues in England and Wales which usually close at 11pm will be able to keep serving for an extra two hours to celebrate. Churches and cathedrals across the country will ring their bells as a collective act of thanksgiving at 6.30pm, echoing the sounds that swept across the country in 1945, the Church of England said.
