Contrary to Baggers' outburst we could look at these figures taken from
World Air Forces - December 2009 - Pictures & Photos on FlightGlobal Airspace
UNITED KINGDOM
ROYAL AIR FORCE
Type
Active (Ordered)
COMBAT AIRCRAFT
Eurofighter Typhoon
42 (91+35*)
F-35B (2+147*)
Harrier GR7/9
62
Tornado F3
21
Tornado GR4
99
TRAINING AIRCRAFT
Eurofighter Typhoon
15 (8+13*)
Harrier T10/12
8
Tornado GR4
18
TRAINING FJs
Hawk T1
76
Hawk T2
11 (+6 stored) (11)
Total for 2009 265 FL FJs Active + 93 Rear Echelon FJs
Total after 2010 SDSR + previous options = circa 150 FL FJs + 93 Rear Echelon FJs
On Order Total to go on the 2009 figures is 147 Typhoons and 149 F-35 plus 11 Hawk 128s
Expected by 2018-20 circa 150 Typhoon, 60-100 F-35C and 28 Hawk 128 => (implies) 6x Typhoon Sqns, 4x F-35 Sqns and 2x “Reserve” Hawk 128 Sqns. GR4 will be scrapped by then…but at least 2x RPAS/UAS Sqns of MQ-9 Reaper or whatever Project SCAVENGER delivers.
Now I don't see that as being "just about the same as Belgium" who in 2009 had just 56 active F-16 MLUs - so it just doesn't compare with our post SDSR of about 150 combat aircraft (Typhoon and Tornado). I would see us temporarily at the same level of the Italians and within a couple of years back at parity with France and Germany (yes, I know what we
used to have but we can't afford it anymore!).
I know that I am not AOC 1Gp (who probably has a finer amount of detail), but 8x RAF FJ sqns, 2x RN FAA sqns, 2x RAF RPAS sqns and possibly 2x RAF Hawk 128 Reserve Sqns isn't a complete disaster for the future of UK Combat Aircraft capability.
LJ