RAF to deploy to civvy airports

[trim it out]

Originally Posted by pr00ne

What? An indigenous nuclear power, 65,000 ton aircraft carriers for 5th generation combat aircraft, nuclear powered hunter killer submarines, armed with cruise missiles, 9 Typhoon Squadrons, 3 F-35B Squadrons with more to come, developing Tempest, RC-135W Squadron, Shadow Squadron, 2 P-8A Posiedon Squadrons, 3 Chinook Squadrons, 2 Puma Squadrons, 2 Voyager AT/AAR Squadrons, 3 A400M Atlas Squadrons, C-17A Squadron, 3 Hawk T2 Squadrons, 2 Reaper Squadrons, Type 45 AAW Destroyers, Type 23 Frigates, developing and building Type 31 and 32 Frigates, autonomous Mine Countermeasures capability, Merlin MHA2, Wildcat MH2, Merlin HC4, Royal Marines, AH-64E Apache, SAS, Parachute Regiment, SBS, Challenger 3, Boxer, GMLRS, Sky Sabre, Ajax (!). UK forces deployed worldwide, on operations constantly for the last 30+ years, key NATO member, permanent member of the UN Security Council, key and leading European supporter to Ukraine providing lethal military hardware, military training and support...

Ceased to be a major player decades ago?

You are having a laugh and spouting utter nonsense.

Personally, I would argue that we are a player on the big table, but not a major one. Spread thinly in tiny footprints coupled with some poor serviceability across many fleets means our ability to force project globally is limited. We don't have much of a reserve either, that's for sure.