AR Capable Helos but no tankers
Why has the RAF got Air Refuelling capable Merlins but no tanker to actually do the job? Why did we scrap the C-130K tankers?
Do RAF Merlin crews actually train for AR and if so, what with? or do they just fit that IFR probe just for the sake of Airshows?
With an event like what happened a few years ago in the SW approaches which could happen again, the UK does not have any helicopters capable of that range which was required back then when coming to the aid of a yacht well out of range of the Seakings.
We relied upon the help of MH-53M's refuelling several times from MC-130P Shadows (and a KC135 to refuel the Shadows) to rescue the injured person.
Why have AR capable Merlins but nothing to tank them in the first place.
The same question goes to when we acquired the Chinook HC3 which also has IFR probes (and taken off).