Why are we wasting time arguing about agile Air Defence fighters? I spent the last 10 years of my RAF service trying to convince every senior officer I could buttonhole that we didn’t need another Lightning replacement. What we were desperately short of – and still are – is a capable long-range attack/recce machine. Apart from impressing Air Marshals and small boys at air displays, what are we going to use Typhoon for? As far as British air forces are concerned (I include the navy), the last time we did proper Air Combat in wartime – against an enemy who was prepared to fight back – was the Korean War. I know, Air Combat Training is great fun and a great recruitment factor, far more interesting than formation aeros, for example. I was an Air Combat Instructor for many years and flew Air Combat in the Hunter, Harrier, Tornado and Starfighter, but I never convinced myself that it was anything more than a supremely challenging sport.