Thread: Britain to ‘Beef Up’ Defense of Disputed Falkland Islands

If they carry on like this, we'll stop buying their Fray Bentos.

Originally Posted by bsnub

Originally Posted by koman

now they have acquired Chinese supersonic bombers instead.

No they are not bombers. Fighter jets;

The PAC JF-17 Thunder, or CAC FC-1 Xiaolong, is a lightweight, single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft developed jointly by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation of China.

Ok, I did not know that; I thought they were replacing bombers with bombers, but they are not really bombers, they are multi-role...

Anyway the question still remains, why would they have wanted bombers in the first place?

Replacing Russian bombers with Paki/Chinese fighters is an odd switch. Like setting out to buy a five ton truck and coming home with a Honda Civic or something....

I read up a bit on them. They sound OK, but not world beaters by any means. They are described as a "low cost alternatives to more expensive western fighters" ...whatever that actually means.

Originally Posted by ENT

Developed by China and Pakistan?

God help us.

What could go wrong . . .

Originally Posted by koman

Anyway the question still remains, why would they have wanted bombers in the first place?

The only thing I can think of would be to use as some sort of political leverage. It really doesn't make much sense. Those Russian Sukhois would be no match for the 4 Eurofighter Typhoons.

Originally Posted by koman

I read up a bit on them. They sound OK, but not world beaters by any means. They are described as a "low cost alternatives to more expensive western fighters" ...whatever that actually means.

A bit like India's Tata Maruti,
The brakes don't work.

Originally Posted by ENT

Tata Maruti

Aren't they two different companies?

Yes.

Shuld have said Tata/Maruti.

Different companies, similar type of cheap people carrier.

Originally Posted by Koojo

Isn't that where all the Nazis that could fled to after the war?

A lot of them ended up in Paraguay too after Peron started turning up the heat.

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Originally Posted by Koojo

Isn't that where all the Nazis that could fled to after the war?

A lot of them ended up in Paraguay too after Peron started turning up the heat.

Ahem . . . a good number were brought to the US, let's not forget that when we criticise others

If they value their 'freedom' so much, why don't we take a leaf fom Israel's book and put them all thru' national service- then get them to invade Argentina?

Falklands' conflict hypothesis: Argentine Mirages are banned from flying on cloudy days

The Argentine government and media agree that the country does not have the military capacity to attack the Falkland Islands as feared by Britain. A report in daily La Nacion points out the Argentine armed forces lack landing crafts, troop transport vessels and even the Mirage fighter planes are banned from flying on cloudy days because of repeated problems with their instruments.

We have no conflict hypothesis. We are programmed for a defense policy based on the development of our capabilities”, said Rossi.


Earlier this week, UK Secretary of Defense Mike Fallon told Parliament that Argentina remains “a live threat” for the Falklands and announced a beefing up of the Islands' defense, based on an ongoing review. This included the return of two Chinook helicopters that had been sent to Afghanistan; an upgrading of communications and the Rapier land-air missile system plus an additional approximately 260 million dollars ten years for infrastructure and improvement of living conditions of personnel.

However, Argentine Defense minister Agustín Rossi said that Argentine forces are not programmed to invade any country and do not have the 'logistics capacity' to attempt any military actions in the Malvinas Islands or any country.

“We have no conflict hypothesis. We are programmed for a defense policy based on the development of our capabilities”, said Rossi who denied point blank any consideration of purchasing Russian fighter jets, as reported in the UK media because they are simply 'inaccessible given their value“.

However he admitted aircraft offers from Spain, Israel, China and France to replace the Mirages to be decommissioned at the end of the year.

La Nacion report points out that Argentina's military capability is far from what it was in 1982, when the invasion of the Falklands.

”In a theatre of insular war, the attackers must ensure control of the air and the sea. In this hypothesis Argentina currently has only the capacity to occupy the Martin Garcia island (a minimum sandy territory shared with Uruguay in the River Plate)“ explained Daniel Gallo an analyst from La Nacion.

”Argentina can't even reach the Malvinas with men equipped for combat. Beyond any wish or fantasy of domestic policy, the 650 kilometers separating the Malvinas islands are an insurmountable barrier“, he added.

Gallo added that Argentina lacks landing and transport vessels, and not even icebreaker Almiarante Irizar is operational to be used as a logistics platform as happened during the 1982 conflict. ”This only tactical situation eliminates any other possibility”.

Likewise Argentina does not have the appropriate air fighters. The Mirages are not combat operational but are also banned from flying when clouded because of repeated problems with the instruments. Furthermore despite the different offers to purchase a squadron (18 aircraft) these would not be arriving or be operational until at least two to three years. When the Malvinas war, Argentina had over 120 first line combat aircraft.

The Argentine navy back in 1982 had an aircraft carrier, “25 de Mayo” and several surface units. But the carrier in 1989 was decommissioned because of lack of budget and was broken up in India. No amphibious vessels are available.

The Hercules destroyer was converted into a quick transport which can carry 150 marines and the Santisima Trinidad went down while docked, concludes the report.

Falklands' conflict hypothesis: Argentine Mirages are banned from flying on cloudy days ? MercoPress

Falklands' defense expenditure increase' will be taken before the UN, says Argentina

Argentina will take the United Kingdom before the United Nations Decolonization Committee following London's announcement it was increasing expenditure on the Falkland Islands defense, said Foreign minister Hector Timerman on Wednesday.

“Argentina has no interest in being involved in an armed conflict” with nobody, but insists UK must comply with the forty UN resolutions, said Timerman
Tuesday Fallon announced an upgrading of the Falklands' defense system since Argentina remains “a live threat”

As they are going to hold elections, they turn to a cheap nationalism keeping all the British society on the edge,” argued Anibal Fernandez

“Argentina has no interest in being involved in an armed conflict” with nobody, but insists that the UK must comply with the forty UN resolutions and sit to talk about the Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty, added the minister.

“We repudiate the war-mongering and militaristic attitude of the UK”, which on Tuesday confirmed before Parliament its decision to reinforce military presence in the Falklands alleging that Argentina remains as “a live threat” to the Islands.
“We are a country with no conflict hypothesis with any country in the world, while the UK is continually on a state of war”, argued Timerman.

Finally Timerman said that what really upsets the UK is that “Argentina thinks and acts independently”, and countries such as the UK want “the subordination, submissiveness of others, so that one ends mentally colonial, or rather a mentality that accepts you must be a second category country”.

On Tuesday UK Secretary of Defense Michael Fallon made a statement before Parliament saying that “the current military presence is broadly proportionate to the threats and risks we face. Our forces in the South Atlantic are... at the level required for defense of the Falkland Islands against any potential threat”.

However Fallon said two Chinook helicopters would be recalled to the Falklands by the middle of next year and an enhanced communications system would be mounted at the military base in Mount Pleasant and at Mare Harbor. But the number of personnel will remain at about the current level of 1.200.

Likewise the ground based air defense system Rapier, will be replaced by the end of the decade and furthermore over the next ten years £180 million will be allocated to improve and modernize infrastructure, including military accommodation upgrades and a new primary school.

On Wednesday Argentina's cabinet chief said that Britain’s decision to increase its military presence in the South Atlantic is an “inappropriate” move responding to electoral prospects of PM David Cameron’s coalition government.

“As they are going to hold elections, they turn to a cheap nationalism keeping all the British society on the edge,” Aníbal Fernández said and considered 'absolutely unjustified' Fallon's allegations that Argentina posed a threat to the Falklands.

“Besides being implausible, it results absolutely unjustified to raise the specter of an alleged ‘Argentine threat’ to increase the British military budget and consolidate the increasing militarization of the Islands.”

Falklands' defense expenditure increase' will be taken before the UN, says Argentina ? MercoPress

Originally Posted by koman

Also gave the various branches of the military a chance for a shakedown cruise and a bit of live fire training.

I'm guessing the crew of the Sheffield found the cruise exactly a live fire exercise.

Originally Posted by ENT

Falklands' defense expenditure increase' will be taken before the UN, says Argentina

Argentina will take the United Kingdom before the United Nations Decolonization Committee following London's announcement it was increasing expenditure on the Falkland Islands defense, said Foreign minister Hector Timerman on Wednesday.

Well that's going to have the MoD pissing in their pants, isn't it?

Pathetic really.

I wonder what she's trying to detract attention from, the murdered prosecutor, maybe?

Originally Posted by kmart

We must be near to the UK Election then?

My thoughts exactly, I felt the wave of nostalgia for Britannia sweep through Me old bones, the comfort of Maggie at the Helm.
So that's a reminder to put on the fridge magnet that in the upcoming election, I put My x by Maggies party.

Originally Posted by ENT

Developed by China and Pakistan?

God help us.

Great opportunity to test these latest aviation jets, against the Euro jets waiting for a show down around Port Stanley.
Don't send ground troops, the public don't want that, but a fighter jet battle, cool.
Are these new Asian jets more advanced than the French dessault Mirage used by Argentina in 1982 dust up.

Originally Posted by ENT

Pathetic really.

I wonder what she's trying to detract attention from, the murdered prosecutor, maybe?

*Possibly*.

Whatever goes down, UK's not giving up Falklands.

Argy can cry on, to no avail, she has no historical claim to the place, other than latter day re-vamping of obscure and illegitimate claims of precedence of occupation there.

Originally Posted by wasabi

Originally Posted by ENT

Developed by China and Pakistan?

God help us.

Great opportunity to test these latest aviation jets, against the Euro jets waiting for a show down around Port Stanley.
Don't send ground troops, the public don't want that, but a fighter jet battle, cool.
Are these new Asian jets more advanced than the French dessault Mirage used by Argentina in 1982 dust up.

I'd like to see a crack like that.

Sadly, it'll include a loss of dedicated lives a well as loss of innocents.

So, my vote s for beefed up security and no instigation of war/intimidation by UK.

Nice of Argentina to play the British national anthem today Danny kent won the Moto 3 race.
All residence of Santiago del Estero to be jailed for treason.

Originally Posted by kmart

We must be near to the UK Election then?

It saved Maggie's ass in 1982...time for a sequel eh???

Originally Posted by misskit

Tensions over the Falklands still crackle more than 30 years after Argentine forces seized them and Britain sent a task force to retake them in a brief war which saw more than 600 Argentine and 255 British servicemen killed.

Britain to ?Beef Up? Defense of Disputed Falkland Islands

Surely the losses were more than 600 and 255 respectively Argie and Uk? Didn't the Belgrano have approx 1500 and the Sheffield about 1200?

While Britain gets invaded by Masses of marauders crossing the French Channel every day to a weak island, You worry about Argie Bargie and the penguins Island.

Originally Posted by koman

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by misskit

“That particular deal hasn't been confirmed,” Fallon said, saying a threat remained nonetheless. “It is a very live threat, we have to respond to it,” he said.

In other words the threat is "very live" even though there is no threat.

Gotta love politicians looking to increase military spending.

Then there is that little matter of the population that is staunchly British and wants to remain so....by an overwhelming majority.

It reminds me of all those 1980s left-wing comedians who capitalised on the sheer economic insanity of the conflict...Alexei Sayle used to say: "I'm a loyal monarchist - i send all my children to the Falklands to look for firewood..."

But if the Russians start getting involved, we may see the true cost of Ronnie's love affair with Maggie...