One rumour (note 'rumour', no idea if it's true) has it that CGS was far from uninvolved in the process of ensuring that the King Airs went to the AAC. Although whether or not he's going to be doing some refresher training so that the things have enough pilots isn't clear...
Read my lips...they are not going to be AAC assets. They are expecting to go to an RAF Sqn with an RAF Boss, flown by RAF pilots and based at an RAF Station...'nuff said, sorry teenie-weenies! How do I know this - they have started pulling individuals from the light-blue ME Cadre in the past few months - they have been told which Sqn they are going to, where and when. I don't believe that we are scrapping Defenders to be replaced by the King Air 350ER aircraft, so I guess that capability will remain with the AAC.
On another aside. Does anyone know whether they are the same as the US Forces' "Guardrail" aircraft?
LJ