Latest news with #HMSDreadnought
Mint
a day ago
- Business
- Mint
UK Military Rhetoric Doesn't Match Fiscal Reality
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Not long before World War I, HMS Dreadnought, a battleship that made all existing vessels obsolete, was launched at Portsmouth in the presence of the King-Emperor Edward VII. Fire-breathing patriots soon took up the cry, 'We want eight and we won't wait.' Winston Churchill, then a young home secretary in a government committed to spending more on welfare, wryly noted of the popular clamor for a naval race with Germany: 'The Admiralty had demanded six ships; the economists offered four; and we finally compromised on eight.' British debates about defense spending follow a familiar trajectory, although this time it's politicians, rather than civilians, insisting that more should be spent on firepower. A military revolution in warfare is underway, too. Drones, off-the-shelf technology far cheaper than Dreadnoughts, are being deployed to lethal effect on the battlefields of Ukraine and further afield - the daring 'Spider Web' raid last weekend destroyed as much as a third of Russia's strategic bombing force based thousands of miles away from Europe. But the UK needs to replace expensive military hardware too, and make good shortages of munitions. Economists fear the government can't afford the outlay without large tax increases. Who will prevail? In a speech prior to the publication of his government's Strategic Defence Review (SDR) this week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer sounded eerily reminiscent of an old-fashioned jingoist, circa 1914. Britain, he said, faces a threat 'more serious, more immediate and more unpredictable than at any time since the Cold War.' The UK needs to move to 'war-fighting readiness.' Alas, reality and rhetoric don't match. UK defense spending is planned to rise to only 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2027, with a notional ambition to reach 3% by the mid-2030s. In the 1980s, at the end of the Cold War, it stood at almost 4%. When the dogged Defence Secretary John Healey attempted to impose a fixed timeline for a bigger military budget, he was immediately slapped down by the Treasury. Within days, however, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization trumped Starmer. The Western Alliance has reached near consensus on a 5% commitment, with 3.5% going directly on the armed services and a further 1.5% on related spending. On Thursday, US Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth, ordered Starmer to saddle up, saying 'it is important that the UK gets there.' On Tuesday, German Defense Secretary Boris Pistorius talked of raising expenditure by annual increments to reach 5% of GDP, aimed at creating the strongest conventional army in Europe. At home, the popular hue and cry is not for an arms race with Russia, which remains a niche preoccupation at Westminster and in security circles, but for reversing cuts to pensioners' winter-fuel allowances. Labour's backbenchers oppose projected welfare reductions. Meanwhile, the economists warn that the bond market won't countenance more borrowing to pay for guns or butter - gilt yields remain elevated amid jitters over the Trump administration's ballooning deficit. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves rules out raising taxes in the autumn — though few believe her. Something's got to give. UK prime ministers have a habit of over-promising and under-delivering on military commitments. Starmer's Conservative predecessors squandered the Cold War peace dividend for over a decade even as Russia rearmed and attacked its neighbors. Wishful thinking can also lead to embarrassment. Starmer recently proclaimed 'a coalition of the willing' ready to take the place of the US in policing a ceasefire in Ukraine by dispatching a 'reassurance force.' Washington, however, refused to offer air cover — and in any case the British army has shrunk to 70,000, levels last seen before the war with Napoleon — so the UK can no longer assemble an expeditionary force. The best it can offer Ukraine is a support mission. As for crippling the Russian war effort, the UK, like other European nations, sanctioned Russian oil and gas after its invasion of Ukraine. But according to a new study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), the value of Russian crude oil and liquid natural gas shipped under British ownership or insurance since the war began tops £200 billion ($270 billion). A dark fleet of ships working for the Russians supplements the trade. The government is wary of severing these links for fear of triggering another energy price rise spiral and a round of the ruinous inflation and cost of living crisis that sank its Tory predecessor. To be fair, the SDR has met a mostly warm reception from military specialists. At least it puts the focus back on the European theater — previous reviews suggested fanciful scenarios in which British aircraft carriers, without a full complement of aircraft and naval escorts, might be deployed to Asia. With commendable honesty, the authors of this week's report also own up to 'the hollowing out of the Armed Forces warfighting capability' and cite inadequate stockpiles of munitions after years of 'underinvestment.' Without a rapid improvement in military housing and in the absence of conscription, army numbers are unlikely to rise. With its suggestion that the UK should build up its maritime forces — namely the Trident nuclear deterrent and the commissioning of 12 new attack submarines — the SDR implies the UK is set on going back to a strategic stance familiar to Churchill and his contemporaries in 1914, known to historians as the British Way of Warfare, avoiding a continental military commitment at scale. Today, however, the Royal Navy no longer rules the waves as it did in 1914. That means cutting back on the rhetoric and working closely with allies to deploy the few troops available for land-based conflict. 'This is a once-in-a-generation inflection point for collective security in Europe,' concludes the SDR. Unless British public opinion changes, however, the UK's neglect of its military needs and obligations looks set to continue. More from Bloomberg Opinion: This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Martin Ivens is the editor of the Times Literary Supplement. Previously, he was editor of the Sunday Times of London and its chief political commentator. More stories like this are available on
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
UK Military Rhetoric Doesn't Match Fiscal Reality
Not long before World War I, HMS Dreadnought, a battleship that made all existing vessels obsolete, was launched at Portsmouth in the presence of the King-Emperor Edward VII. Fire-breathing patriots soon took up the cry, 'We want eight and we won't wait.' Winston Churchill, then a young home secretary in a government committed to spending more on welfare, wryly noted of the popular clamor for a naval race with Germany: 'The Admiralty had demanded six ships; the economists offered four; and we finally compromised on eight.' British debates about defense spending follow a familiar trajectory, although this time it's politicians, rather than civilians, insisting that more should be spent on firepower. A military revolution in warfare is underway, too. Drones, off-the-shelf technology far cheaper than Dreadnoughts, are being deployed to lethal effect on the battlefields of Ukraine and further afield - the daring 'Spider Web' raid last weekend destroyed as much as a third of Russia's strategic bombing force based thousands of miles away from Europe.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
See the world's first drone aircraft carriers
A race is on to build a revolutionary new class of ship: Drone aircraft carriers. Tech advances suggest drones may pack some punch at a fraction of an aircraft carrier's cost. BI assessed the naval race through three of the world's first drone carriers. China recently launched the world's largest amphibious assault ship. Its features drove widespread speculation that it was the world's first purpose-built drone carrier. China would be the third country to operate a drone carrier. Two others — Turkey and Iran — have adapted existing ships to launch aerial drones. Drone carriers are a relatively new concept previously reserved for science fiction and defense industry trade shows. These ships mark what could be a new era of warship construction akin to the launching of HMS Dreadnought in 1906, which revolutionized battleship design. They capitalize on the growing reach of drones and the ability of a large ship to rapidly launch them near an enemy's shores. The specifics of what constitutes a drone carrier and its military value are hotly debated, much as other ship classes have been in history. In the most literal sense, virtually any ship can be a drone carrier, as almost all ships are capable of launching handheld drones. Even larger drones that require the use of a small catapult and recovery net, like the AAI RQ-2 Pioneer and the Boeing Insitu RQ-21 Blackjack, have been used on all kinds of US Navy vessels since the mid-1980s. Larger fixed-wing drones have also operated on the decks of aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships before. In 2013, Northrup Grumman's X-47B demonstrator was launched from and landed on the deck of the USS George H. W. Bush, and, more recently, General Atomics' Gray Eagle STOL UAV took off from a South Korean amphibious assault ship. Long before those two, the US Navy's TDN-1 drones demonstrated the ability to take off from carriers in 1944. But those efforts were largely tests or one-offs. The concept of a drone carrier goes well beyond: a ship with a large flight deck designed to launch waves of drones, much like an aircraft carrier sorties piloted aircraft. In essence, it is a dedicated, purpose-built drone carrier. There's disagreement over which country has technically built the first drone carrier — much like the debate over who built the first aircraft carrier in the early 20th century. And the contestants in this race are countries that haven't traditionally been the world's leading global navies. Turkey is the first country to claim the commissioning of a drone carrier. Ordered in 2015, launched in 2018, and commissioned in 2023, TCG Anadolu is 757 feet long and displaces 27,436 tons. It is the Turkish Navy's most advanced vessel and current flagship. Though the Turkish government claims 70% of Anadolu was built with domestic components, the ship's design is that of Spain's Juan Carlos I amphibious assault ship. Like its Spanish forebear, Anadolu was originally intended to carry an air wing of helicopters and manned short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) jets — specifically American F-35B stealth strike fighters. However, in 2019, Turkey was kicked out of the F-35 program due to its purchase of Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, which US and NATO officials worried could be used to gather intelligence on the F-35. Rather than limit Anadolu's air wing to just helicopters, the Turks opted to repurpose the ship into the world's first drone carrier, relying on its world-class drone industry to provide the aircraft. Two drone models will operate from the Anadolu: the Bayraktar TB3 and the Bayraktar Kızılelma. Both were developed by the well-known maker Baykar. The TB3 is a navalized variant of the company's combat-proven propeller-driven TB2 drone that features folding wings, a strengthened suspension, and a more powerful engine. Baykar says it has an endurance of over 21 hours and can carry up to 617 pounds of ordnance. It can be used for both surveillance and strike missions, especially against enemies with no or low-tier air defenses. Baykar describes the Kızılelma as a "fighter UAV" that features a turbofan jet engine enabling it to reach a max speed of Mach 0.9 and fly as high as 45,000 feet. It can also carry 3,300 pounds of weapons on external hardpoints and in internal weapons bays. Turkish officials have said that the Anadolu's air wing will be composed of 12 unmanned combat aircraft. The ship can also carry AH-1W Cobra and T129 attack helicopters and SH-60B Seahawks. In November, the TB3 made history by successfully taking off from and landing on the TCG Anadolu, becoming the first fixed-wing drone to take off and land on a short-deck ship. In January, a TB3 successfully conducted its first strike against a mock target. On February 6, Iran became the second country to claim the commissioning of a drone carrier. The vessel, known as the Shahid Bahman Bagheri, is a converted container ship. Conversion began in 2022, when an angled flight deck was added to its hull. In 2023, a similarly angled ski-jump ramp pointing starboard was added at the bow. The design means that wheeled drones will take off and land at an angle, a system likely pursued for practical reasons to avoid obstruction by the ship's tower. According to Iranian officials, Shahid Bahman Bagheri has a 590-foot flight deck, a displacement of 41,978 tons, a range of 22,000 nautical miles, and the ability to carry and deploy armed fast-attack craft. The ship could be a showcase for Iran's potent drone technology, which has helped Russia repeatedly strike Ukraine. Tehran has publicized footage of multiple drone models on the ship. These include two Mohajer-6 reconnaissance/strike drones, an apparently modified Ababil-3 reconnaissance/strike drone which was seen launching from the Bagheri's deck, and two small Homa drones. The most intriguing model, however, is a new UAV apparently based on a planned indigenous stealth fighter project that was known as the Qaher-313. Little is known of this new drone. Seven were recorded on Bagheri's deck in two variants, both of which were smaller than the previously seen Qaher-313 prototype. Some have speculated that the four larger models may be able to carry weapons internally to reduce their radar return. Only the smaller variant has been seen taking off and landing on Bagheri, propelled by a small jet engine. Bagheri's air wing may eventually include navalized variants of other models, as well as loitering munitions like the Shahed-136 that has been routinely used to attack Ukraine. Bagheri is also claimed to be able to launch unmanned submersible vessels as well. The Bagheri is part of the naval branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a paramilitary organization that has acquired a number of sophisticated sea-going vessels in recent years. China's entry into the drone carrier race was launched on December 27. Named Sichuan, the ship is based on China's Type 075-class amphibious assault ship, and has been modified for better flight ops, including changes like the positioning of its elevators and two command islands. The lead ship of the Type 076-class, Sichuan measures 853 feet long and reportedly displaces over 40,000 tons, making it the largest amphibious assault ship in the world. It is slightly longer than the 844-foot America-class LHA. Sichuan's defining features are the large catapult embedded on its port side and arresting gear on its deck — firsts for any amphibious assault ship. The catapult can launch fixed-wing aircraft while its arresting gear enables fixed-wing landings. With no crewed short-landing and take-off aircraft in Chinese service, there is little doubt that Sichuan's air wing is meant to be mostly unmanned. The most likely model would be the GJ-11 Sharp Sword, a jet-powered stealthy flying wing design believed to be intended for strike missions. Images of GJ-11 mockups from airshows show two internal weapon bays that some speculate may be able to carry over 4,400 pounds of ordnance. A concept video from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the drone's state-owned manufacturer, shows a ship-launched GJ-11 deploying six decoy aircraft to confuse an enemy ship's air defenses and possibly launch electronic warfare attacks. The GJ-11 may also serve as a "loyal wingman" to manned fighter jets, possibly supplementing Chinese carrier-borne J-15 fighters and J-35 stealth fighters. Given its size, Sichuan may be able to carry as many as a dozen GJ-11s. Its future air wing may also consist of navalized variants of other drones in China's inventory or under development. Of the three ships, only Anadolu and Bagheri have been commissioned into official service. Anadolu has participated in naval exercises while Bagheri conducted sea trials in the Persian Gulf late last year and has since sailed with other IRGCN vessels. Sichuan, meanwhile, is finishing up final fitting out in preparation for its first sea trials. Drone carriers are valuable not only for their ability to deploy uncrewed reconnaissance/strike aircraft. They can also help save on costs: training drone pilots is easier and faster than training jet pilots, and it's likely faster and cheaper to replace lost UAVs. With navies looking to unmanned assets to increase their numbers while limiting serious losses, drone carriers are likely to play an increasingly important role in the future. Benjamin Brimelow is a freelance journalist covering international military and defense issues. He holds a master's degree in Global Affairs with a concentration in international security from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. His work has appeared in Business Insider and the Modern War Institute at West Point. Read the original article on Business Insider
The Independent
20-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Next generation of nuclear deterrent submarines ‘a commitment to defence'
The birth of Britain's next generation of nuclear deterrent submarines is a renewal of a historic national endeavour and a commitment to defence for decades to come, said Sir Keir Starmer. The Prime Minister attended a keel-laying ceremony in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, for the first of the Dreadnought class of submarines, a fleet of four vessels which will begin to enter service for the Royal Navy in the early 2030s. Two crew members of the original HMS Dreadnought, the UK's first nuclear power submarine, launched in 1960, joined dignitaries and shipyard workers at Thursday's event at the town's BAE Systems. Sir Keir hailed Barrow as a 'blueprint' for the way increasing defence spending can boost prosperity across the UK. In February, he said the Government will increase defence spending to 2.5% of the UK's economic output by 2027, something which ministers think will help drive economic growth and create jobs across the UK. Just days ago, Sir Keir secretly joined a crew of submariners as they returned home to their families for the first time in months, making him the first prime minister to join a so-called 'day zero' since 2013. He told the audience: 'This is where the story begins. The submarine I was on was built right here. 'Those sailors depend on the best, the best engineering, the best design, the best assembling. That means you. 'Our story depends on you, everyone here working in the shipyard. Nothing works unless we all work together. 'Today does not just mark the birth of this vessel. it marks nothing less than the renewal of a historic national endeavour. A commitment to our defence for decades to come.' Defence Secretary John Healey, who laid the keel as he unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion, said: ' We are ensuring the nation's war-fighting excellence for years to come. 'This submarine is one of the most complex machines ever built anywhere in the world. It will be the most formidable, the most advanced, the most powerful nuclear submarine ever built.' Sir Keir announced that Barrow will be known by the title of the Royal Port of Barrow, in recognition of its important position in the nation's defence. The King hopes to visit the town in the near future to mark the new title. Earlier on Thursday, Sir Keir and Mr Healey met local primary schoolchildren who visited BAE Systems to watch a display of 'roving robots'. They also spoke to some of the apprentices at the firm, whose workforce has grown by more than 1,000 in the past six months. First-year apprentice Natasha, 23, told him how she was fed up working in hospitality and wanted a trade. She said: 'I want to help the community in a better way, like building something and not just sat in an office. 'Not many people can say they have built a submarine.' Dreadnought submarines will be the largest ever operated by the Royal Navy, at 153.6 metres long, about the length of three Olympic swimming pools. As part of the Government's nuclear skill plan initiative, the submarine workforce at Barrow has grown by more than 3,000 since 2023 to 14,700. The overall Dreadnought programme is expected to support in the region of 30,000 jobs across the UK over its lifetime. Steve Timms, managing director of BAE Systems' submarines business, said: 'Laying the keel for the first of class, HMS Dreadnought, is an incredibly proud moment for everyone across the company, Defence Nuclear Enterprise and Royal Navy. 'It comes as the boat's last major unit prepares to make its way into the Devonshire Dock Hall for final integration, demonstrating the progress made across the programme to date. 'Our collective role in maintaining continuous at sea deterrence is our most critical responsibility. 'It's a truly national endeavour vital to safeguarding our way of life, as well as making a significant contribution to local and national prosperity. 'I'm proud that thousands of our highly skilled people are at the heart of today's achievement.'
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Next generation of nuclear deterrent submarines ‘a commitment to defence'
The birth of Britain's next generation of nuclear deterrent submarines is a renewal of a historic national endeavour and a commitment to defence for decades to come, said Sir Keir Starmer. The Prime Minister attended a keel-laying ceremony in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, for the first of the Dreadnought class of submarines, a fleet of four vessels which will begin to enter service for the Royal Navy in the early 2030s. Two crew members of the original HMS Dreadnought, the UK's first nuclear power submarine, launched in 1960, joined dignitaries and shipyard workers at Thursday's event at the town's BAE Systems. Sir Keir hailed Barrow as a 'blueprint' for the way increasing defence spending can boost prosperity across the UK. In February, he said the Government will increase defence spending to 2.5% of the UK's economic output by 2027, something which ministers think will help drive economic growth and create jobs across the UK. Just days ago, Sir Keir secretly joined a crew of submariners as they returned home to their families for the first time in months, making him the first prime minister to join a so-called 'day zero' since 2013. He told the audience: 'This is where the story begins. The submarine I was on was built right here. 'Those sailors depend on the best, the best engineering, the best design, the best assembling. That means you. 'Our story depends on you, everyone here working in the shipyard. Nothing works unless we all work together. 'Today does not just mark the birth of this vessel. it marks nothing less than the renewal of a historic national endeavour. A commitment to our defence for decades to come.' Defence Secretary John Healey, who laid the keel as he unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion, said: ' We are ensuring the nation's war-fighting excellence for years to come. 'This submarine is one of the most complex machines ever built anywhere in the world. It will be the most formidable, the most advanced, the most powerful nuclear submarine ever built.' Sir Keir announced that Barrow will be known by the title of the Royal Port of Barrow, in recognition of its important position in the nation's defence. The King hopes to visit the town in the near future to mark the new title. Earlier on Thursday, Sir Keir and Mr Healey met local primary schoolchildren who visited BAE Systems to watch a display of 'roving robots'. They also spoke to some of the apprentices at the firm, whose workforce has grown by more than 1,000 in the past six months. First-year apprentice Natasha, 23, told him how she was fed up working in hospitality and wanted a trade. She said: 'I want to help the community in a better way, like building something and not just sat in an office. 'Not many people can say they have built a submarine.' Dreadnought submarines will be the largest ever operated by the Royal Navy, at 153.6 metres long, about the length of three Olympic swimming pools. As part of the Government's nuclear skill plan initiative, the submarine workforce at Barrow has grown by more than 3,000 since 2023 to 14,700. The overall Dreadnought programme is expected to support in the region of 30,000 jobs across the UK over its lifetime.
