DE&S News

[keefyboy]

Evening folks

Though I decided to take voluntary early retirement from a career in MOD some 5 years ago, I still like to keep in touch with all the latest developments on new equipment for the UK military. It’s only just occurred to me that with the wealth of knowledge, interest and professions, that are abundant with members of AFA, many of you might also have an interest in such things too. My apologies to those of you that might already be familiar with this public link but I’m sure there are many that are not.


I’ve added below the links to the last 5 issues of the DE&S house magazine should you be interested. Personally I tend to ignore all the management bullshit articles (don’t get me started on that!) about how great DE&S are and all the associated gong ceremonies – preferring to concentrate on articles concerning new kit for the military.

If any interest, I’m happy to post a link direct to each month’s new magazine starting with the June 2017 issue.



www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/585708/20170106-Desider103-January2017.pdf

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/598568/201702-desider_104_Feb2017-V_Purple2.pdf

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/598569/201703-desider_105_March2017-V_Purple2.pdf

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/608814/Apr_Desider_2017-web.pdf

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/612481/MayDesider2017-interactive.pdf

PS: Anyone figured out how they might get HMS QE2 out of Rosyth and under the 2 + 1 (being built) Forth road/rail bridges and safely down to Pompey yet?  I asked this question a couple of years ago at the Yeovilton airshow and the BAe stand manager assured me it would not be a problem as there would be a 3 foot clearance at low tide - hope they've dredged a channel!!  I see todays press have finally picked up on this potential problem!!  One of those 'Oh bugger@ moments!!

Cheers

Keith

[billsamuels]

Thanks for posting Keith. Some really interesting material there. Only read the first one so far but some good stuff.

Cheers mate.

Bill

P.S.  Hope you are enjoying retirement, as I am....

[keefyboy]

Evening folks

Here are the the links to the July through to November issues of Desider should you be interested in having a gander at what's currently 'state of the art' in the UK military.

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/625454/July_Desider_2017-small.pdf

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/634416/August_Desider_2017_V3.pdf

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/646063/desider_110_Sept2017.pdf

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/651024/desider_October2017-Issue111.pdf

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/656703/Desider_112-Nov2017.pdf

Cheers

Keith

[graham]

Great stuff Keith, many thanks

[keefyboy]

Evening folks

The links to the Dec 2017 and Jan 2018 issues of Desider are below

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/667430/December-desider-small_V3__002_.pdf

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/672348/Desider-114-Jan2018.pdf

Cheers

Keith

[keefyboy]

Evening folks

Links to the Feb 2018 and March 2018 issues of Desider are below:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/678953/desider_115_Feb2018-Web.pdf

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/684612/Mar-Desider-2018-small.pdf

Cheers

Keith

[graham]

Thanks Keith..;0)

[keefyboy]

Evening folks

Links to the Apr 2018 and May 2018 issues of Desider are below:

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/697234/2018-04-desider_117_April2018-V2.pdf

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/705184/20180504-Desider-edition_118-May_2018-Web.pdf

[keefyboy]

Greetings folks

Another hot afternoon and its half time Brazil v Mexico.

Here are the links to the June and July 2018 issues of Desider. The July edition includes an up date on entry into service of Juno and F35.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/715609/2018-06-desider_119-June2018-V3.pdf

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/720776/July-Desider-Web-V2.pdf

[keefyboy]

Evening folks

As the nights draw in and the skies darken, here are the latest offerings from DE&S covering the August to October 2018 magazines - some, but only some, and certainly not all, may be of interest:

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/731960/August-Desider-Online-V4.pdf

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/747683/Desider-September-Online-V4.pdf

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/744715/Desider-October-2018-final_lowres2.pdf

Cheers
Keith

[graham]

Many thanks Keith

[keefyboy]

This months DE&S news is at the link below. Interesting piece on the Apache at page 9.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/754284/November-desider-Online-V4.pdf

Cheers
Keith

[graham]

Very interesting Keith thank you. The AH Mk1's which have been in storage, were they surplus to requirements or had they reached the end of their flying days?

[keefyboy]

The military always tend to buy more aircraft than they need to cover training/operations - mostly to cover attrition losses - of which there have been thankfully few in recent years. I doubt if any of them were surplus to requirements or had reached the end of their flying hours. More likely the Apaches that were broken were put to one side and used as hanger queens to provide spares for the rest of the fleet. A very common practice in the military. Allied to this is the never ending downward pressure on the military budget and the constant refocusing of military priorities - eg tanks vs ships and so on.

I see from UK Serials that the following Apaches have been shipped to Boeing - ZJ166, 167, 168, 169,170, 172, 173, 175,176, 202, 212, 214,219. A bugger really as there are 3 there I would like to see but not much chance now.

Cheers
Keith

[graham]

Thanks Keith. Yes, a few there I need too

[keefyboy]

The Jan 2019 DE&S news is at the link below. Not too much of aviation interest this month but a couple of bits on Typhoon and Merlin.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/767541/January-desider-v1-Online.pdf

[graham]

Great, many thanks Keith

[keefyboy]

Here's the link to the Feb 2019 DE&S News.

A few bits of aviation interest on Apache, Sea King, F35 and Shadow.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/775956/February-desider-Online-v1.pdf

[graham]

Thanks Keith, always interesting reading.

[keefyboy]

Hi folks

This months DE&S news is here:

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/783752/March-desider-Online-v5.pdf

It contains a few aviation related items and of interest to me is the piece on Tempest. The MOD appear to be spending a very healthy amount on R&D of some £2bn. However, I can't help but draw parallels with EAP/Typhoon when UK plc pretty much developed EAP but was then forced down the multinational route to put what was to become Typhoon into production. The really upsetting part of that fiasco is that the UK had to give up so much IPR to other nations depending on their percentage offtake of aircraft - something that never quite materialised as intended - other nations got the technology with a lower offtake . Heyho I read the French have jumped into bed with the Germans for their next generation aircraft. Given BAE is a global company, I would not be too surprised to see Tempest evolving into a UK/US 6th generation aircraft!!

Cheers
Keith

[billsamuels]

Interesting read Keith.

Cheers mate.

Bill

[graham]

Thanks Keith, always a worthwhile read

[keefyboy]

A bit quiet on here at the moment so here's the link to April's Desider - not much of aviation interest apart from a small piece on AWACS replacement and Tornado run down though page 33 did catch my eye!

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/792164/April-desider-v2.pdf

[keefyboy]

Hi folks

There's not been too much of aviation interest in Desider recently but for the sake of completeness - here are the missing links:

May 2019: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/799830/May-desider-online-v3.pdf

June 2019: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/807057/June-desider-v2.pdf

July 2019: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/816603/July-desider-Online-v2.pdf

August 2019: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/823055/August-desider-online-v1.pdf

September 2019: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/829191/September-desider-online-v3.pdf

The September issue includes a very small piece on the RAF Herc that's been sold to the Blue Angels. I think most of us aviation buffs would recognise that some of the "in-house" MOD journalism is on par with some of the red tops!

Cheers
Keith

[keefyboy]

Hi folks

A few items of aviation interest over the last couple of months:-

October 2019: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/836896/October-desider-online-v3.pdf

November 2019: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/845423/November-desider-Web-v2.pdf

Cheers
Keith

[graham]

Thanks as always Keith

[keefyboy]

The New Year edition of Desider was published on 9 January. Apart from a piece on Poseidon, not much of aviation interest last month. link below

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/856926/January-desider-online-v3__002_.pdf

[keefyboy]

A bit of a catch up - there are a few bits of aviation interest in each issue but nothing you probably don't know already:

Feb 2020 - assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/864732/February-desider-online-v5.pdf

Mar 2020 - assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/869625/March-desider-Online.pdf

Apr 2020 - assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/879020/April-desider-online_v2.pdf

Cheers
Keith

[keefyboy]

Another catch up:

May 2020 - assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/883980/Desider-May2020-online.pdf

Poseidon/Protector features only

June 2020 - assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/894497/June-desider-online-v3.pdf

Pieces on Wildcat and Merlin

July 2020 - assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/897152/July2020-desider-v3.pdf

Not a lot of aviation interest

Aug 2020 - More on Protector. Tempest and Poseidon. Interesting to see that all 9 Poseidons will be in UK by the end of 2021. Also a piece on Rivet Joint upgrade and (yawn) the VIP Voyager.

Cheers
Keith

[graham]

Thanks as always Keith