Rob Lesslie

When FaceID comes to the Mac, will we finally get focus follows eyes?

@BO3673 I had to double check how small an MEU is, and that is really what is being proposed. A single battalion with 6x155mm (plus some odds & sods).

In 1990 there was a strong sense of realism about large scale war - the 82nd was considered a speed bump if Iraq had pushed on. Today people are talking like a single division could turn the tide with Iran, or even single Marine MEU. We’ve gotten high on our own supply.

@pegge49 If I may, I suggest the outage wasn’t that any specific ship was in maintenance. Most sensible people understand that. It was rather that there were no available escorts when needed. The ‘say-do’ gap became glaring to those who don’t pay as closed attention to defence.

After last weeks 'outrage' of a ship (HMS Dragon) being unavailable due to maintenance, here are six frigates undergoing in maintenance from 1991. The only difference was that in those days the escort force wasn't so depleted, that the RN had the mass to cover its commitments.

@FennellJW @IntercityFC We should pursue that *after* we've got T83 in build as a way of increasing magazine depth, but recognise it might not work, or the cost may be too great to justify.

@FennellJW @IntercityFC Automation is brilliant, but no one has managed to do what you describe. It is very difficult to bring into service uncrewed (or even low-crewed) barges which can make fleet speeds, in high sea states, with enough endurance & exchange targeting data in a contested EW environment.

Realistically, Type 45 have had little use and are being heavily upgraded and Type 83 can move to the right a few years to enable more urgent programmes to be funded first.

@FennellJW @IntercityFC I fear this is snake oil, and a convent excuse to not grasp the nettle of building enough AAW ships.

@roblesslie @IntercityFC Air defence can be expanded by getting arsenal ships for T45/83 first, giving each ship two missile barges, that will increase capability and mass.

@enviro1993 @FennellJW +1 We need to work out the requirement for fleet AAW ships, then build to it.

@FennellJW The problem is 6 destroyers is not enough, especially if they are meant to protect land assets from anti-ballistic threats. CSG consumes the entire fleet as it is. If we are going to get back up to 12 or even 9 destroyers we need T83 work to commence now.

@FennellJW @Ho88sy No, if they have extra hull life we can start to grow the too small AAW fleet faster as T83 joins the fleet.

@Ho88sy They need to be replaced on time, but if they have more life in them than planned due to underuse then they can be run on a few more years without negative effects.

@IntercityFC @FennellJW Land attack is the last thing they need. If there is *any* extra money for AAW ships then surely we should spend it on getting T83 faster? If there is extra cash for T45 after than, then NIFC-CA?

@FennellJW MOD said last year Type 45 out of service date is 2038. As you say, particularly Daring has hardly been used. A land attack weapon is needed for them too.

People should be prosecuted for this level of public waste. Or at least fired and pensions revoked.

@JeremyN80616364 From all of that, I am most distressed about losing CEC (and later NIFC-CA). What did happen and isn't on there is PIP and the 24 cell Sea Ceptor silo.

@JeremyN80616364 Shall we look at what we could've won? 12 ships at Baseline 2. web.archive.org/web/2012013111…

The only true issue with the Type 45 is that we only built 6 of them, rather than 12.

@MtarfaL @BenObeseJecty @MugfordSimon Quite. It is sickening.

@roblesslie @BenObeseJecty @MugfordSimon This money

“…the £6.3 billion programme has to go ahead to save hundreds of jobs in Merthyr Tydfil” I raised this precise point during my Ajax debate in January. With the Welsh elections coming up, this feels like a cynical move to save Labour support in Wales rather than any belief that Ajax has actually been fixed. It was only on Monday that I had to get the Speaker to admonish the defence team for failing to disclose the number of noise and vibration injuries that occurred after Initial Operating criteria was achieved. The question still hasn’t been answered. The Government must disclose what the fault with Ajax was and whether it has been resolved. This opaque cover up is nothing short of a disgrace.

@MtarfaL @BenObeseJecty @MugfordSimon We must Nimrod it. This disaster will continue to bleed money & crucially time.

@BenObeseJecty @MugfordSimon Don’t forget these bidstats.uk/tenders/?ntype…

@DefenceES @BritishArmy Was the only other candidate someone’s left bollock with a smiley face drawn on?

Appointment: Lt Gen Simon Hamilton will complete his tenure as interim DE&S CEO at the end of March as he prepares to become the @BritishArmy's next Deputy Chief of the General Staff, leading their Force Design. Thank you for your service at DE&S. 🤝 🔗 des.mod.uk/des-ceo-lieute…

@ThackhamJosh @BearJFK I think SCAF has turned into a Rafale upgrade and a drone of some kind.

@BearJFK The long range they might get wirh scaf too, like tempest on a carrier. Would be very impressive especially with E-2D

Can’t believe they’re gonna dick us with a proper carrier.

Responsibility and Accountability It’s importance in the British military. I’ve thought long and hard about posting this today, my posts are usually about systems, solutions, platforms and institutions and not about individuals. The AJAX still hasn’t been given the all clear. Views my own - comments and corrections welcome. Amid the British Army’s senior leadership reorganisation announced on the 16th March 2026 to drive modernisation and strengthen its NATO contribution, Lieutenant General Simon Hamilton CBE – most recently Chief Executive of Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) – has been appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff. In this new 3-star role he will lead the Army’s Force Design work, overseeing personnel, capability development and industry links through the National Armaments Director Group to enhance lethality and fighting power. Lt Gen Hamilton has been deeply involved in the perennially troubled AJAX (Armoured Cavalry Programme) across multiple senior positions. He served as Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for the programme from April 2019 to August 2021 (following Maj Gen Mark Gaunt), a period that included the award of the multi-billion-pound production contract in November 2019 and the emergence of critical safety and technical defects that triggered a major programme pause in June 2021. His earlier experience as Head Vehicle Support in DE&S’ Land Equipment Operating Centre, followed by Director Programmes and Director Support at Army Headquarters from 2019, placed him at the heart of oversight; he then returned to DE&S as Director General Land (January 2024) before rising to Deputy CEO and ultimately CEO, with land equipment (including ongoing AJAX support and deliveries) squarely in his portfolio. Throughout and after his direct involvement, the £5.5–6.2 billion AJAX family has been beset by chronic delays (originally slated for service around 2017; Initial Operating Capability only declared in November 2025, Full Operating Capability now projected for late 2028–2029 at best), spiralling costs, and persistent noise/vibration issues causing troops to fall ill – leading to repeated training halts, most recently in November 2025 after dozens of soldiers reported symptoms. Multiple parliamentary inquiries, National Audit Office reports and an independent Lessons Learned Review have pointed to systemic procurement failures, optimism bias and governance shortcomings. Even as CEO of DE&S, Hamilton’s tenure coincided with reports of safety concerns being withheld from ministers. In light of this long record of high-profile difficulties with a programme meant to be the Army’s future armoured reconnaissance cornerstone, Lt Gen Hamilton’s elevation to one of the most senior positions at Army Headquarters inevitably prompts the question: in today’s British Army, does failure in major procurement programmes appear to be rewarded with promotion? army.mod.uk/news/army-anno…

This view is not uncommon and shows a lack of understanding of what is required. But for me, the biggest mistake the Armed Forces have made in the past is not saying no often enough in peacetime in order to preserve readiness. By doing so we give the impression of having enough.

@pegge49 I agree, all 3 parties have been in Government and all 3 have made a balls of it.

@roblesslie True, but they did order the Carriers, T45's (even if not enough) and a number of Astute's... Neither Party has much to brag about and both kicked the T23 replacement program down the road for far too long...

And lets not forget this was originally promised to be published in December, as the answer to all the questions the SDR word salad raised... Note: Yes the previous Government has much to answer for, but in 19 months the current one hasn't ordered a single ship (or dry dock)...

@TBrit90 @HighToryHenno No, the ships had an 18 year design life - some of them have struggled on for 30 years. Delaying the replacements was a much worse crime; we did just about manage with the force levels we had in the 2000s and 2010s. Remember T45 ship 7 & 8 was axed to being forward the new FFGs!

Selling the 3 T23s and Bay are amongst the biggest naval crimes this century. Would the frigate fleet be as fragged now?