Lets just look at the recent form of the light blue:
- Tornado out to Op Herrick, "lets make it look useful"
- RAF desire to scrap Harrier (Read desire to scrap FAA fixed wing)
- Resistance to transfer of Merlin to RN
- Continuous counter briefing
Protectionism from the Army?
RAF: "Pot calling kettle, over"
Now don't get me wrong, the Tonka does offer a great deal in theatre and the Harrier fleet may have been broken. I also believe that you only make true savings, which we must make, by getting rid of fleets in toto.
What does grate is the way in which the RAF pursue a protectionist policy and conducts a no holds barred campaign to safeguard its future at the expense of the other services.
I just wish that all three services could work together to form a cohesive plan that takes into account the economic constraints and places the British Armed Forces as a credible military at the correct level on the world stage.