Ahh Crab - you forget that we are a fast jet Air Force. Lots of money has been spent convincing people who like to be convinced by very convincing consultants who can produce some very convincing graphs that convince them that we probably have too many SH because we aren't using them properly, or in a convincing manner. Having listened to these highly paid convincing consultants, they are great until they highlight the fact that they haven't a clue what we are really doing. No-one has told me to project combat power in the most economical way possible - I always thought we had to convince the enemy that they were going to lose, not spend our time convincing ourselves that because the politicians would like us to do the 'war thing' more cheaply that we should continually do it on a shoestring. All the consultants we have paid for would probably buy loads more Chinooks or Merlins, or a button for the Typhoon.
This rant has been fuelled by top quality wine on special offer from Tescos.