Originally Posted by ratpackgreenslug
Nutcracker+ numbers.
Bottom line: Britain can no longer afford the cost structure of the RAF when many of its functions are either duplicated, redundant or viable for farming out to more efficient operators. And everything, with the exception of FJ minus the worthless money pit called Harrier, can be farmed out.
Could you please explain how the following are either duplicated, redundant or viable for farming out to some existing force/operator other than the RAF, please?
ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) beyond the range of a Phoenix - as carried out by E3, Nimrod R1, Sentinel, RAPTOR, JRP, Canberra, satellites and others.
Space Operations - Space Support and Force Enhancement (ISTAR, Navigation, Comms and Environmental Monitoring).
Offensive Counter Air Ops - Airfield Attack, Suppression of Enemy Air Defences, Fighter Sweep, Escort and C2 Warfare.
Active Air Defence System - beyond the range of a Rapier (and not at Sea - the RN do it very well there).
Air Operations for Strategic Effect - Tomahawks and STORMSHADOW (which needs a Tornado to launch) are only good against fixed targets.
Air Refuelling
Strategic Air Transport - into theatres that civilian contractors refuse to enter!
I would be interested to hear how you propose to cover these roles or remove them. RAF chaps feel free to add any I've missed.
Alternatively, we could conduct an experiment and just let you do your own thing in Afghanistan and see just how effective you can be without us. That would be a laugh - except for the families of the hundreds of dead Army chaps that is.