Howdo KBW. My predictions based on your arguments and not withstanding the ‘No AS is too important to cut’:
C130J - Primary customer may have an input as they were rather left in limbo back in the day when the RAF’s answer was to keep dragging out the C130K OSD and take the savings on the C130J development. With J Vs A400, there are certain missions were size and capability are perfect for one type over the other. Looking forward to finding out who wins.
Puma: Again, it’s an argument for medium lift SH Vs expensive heavy lift. Personally, I think we need medium lift. I don’t necessarily think Puma 2 is the answer but I definitely don’t think Wildcat is.
Sentinel: Was not originally a UOR. It was a Core Program but the post-2010 austerity measures saw a quick way to kill it quietly. All I will say is that I don’t think MOD has a true replacement for its capabilities. RPAS have the loiter but not the speed and height. Satellites have the height but not the persistence over an area. I agree I don’t think it will survive the next review. However I wholeheartedly disagree that it is pointless and I think it’ll be a case of you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone.
E3D: If we scrap it, then we need to find another way to contribute to NATO ISR whether that’s cash (which we don’t have) or contributing via other means. However, I can’t remember the last time I read about it being deployed on Ops...
C17: You’ll always need to be able to move outsize or lots of cargo somewhere. If it’s simply doing cargo hops between MOBs and non-austere FOBs then fatigue can be managed. Do we need as many as we have now though? I don’t know.
Defender / D4K: Does the RAF really need to take on another AS whose capabilities are duplicated by an already in service type (Shadow)? Would it not be better to contractorise the D4K role?
Watchkeeper: I really can’t understand why we keep proceeding with it. I don’t mean to sound nasty but perhaps someone on the forum could give an answer on why it’s so important?
Finally, I can imagine Manning is rubbing it’s hands with glee about all those ISR crew, engineers and Spt staff it could post to P8 at Lossiemouth if Sentinel, E3D and D4K were to be wound up!
Hi SVK,
Ref E3-D Im sure MOD have purchased some E7 Wedgetail... but we shall see when they materialise.... (if at all)
We
could live without C17 and use Antonov charter for outsize- I believe fatigue/hours wise the UK are the fleet leaders, so it could make financial sense to release the taxpayer of that burden.
OOHHHHHHH! I like your thinking there- Instant P8 manning issues solved!! that would be a massive win for manning you're spot on
hopefully no one sees this at manning and isnt already stacking up posting notices in JPA workflows ready!!!!
"Pack your bags... you're off to ISL " < right in the pills.
