What I find depressing about the comments on loss of capability etc, and the anti government diatribe, is that the MOD has failed dismally to live within its budget, every project has a cost overrun and arrives late! Any company run like the MOD would be out of business! The MOD must learn to live within its budget and drive out waste. I mean does it really need two super capable and very expensive Typhoons to escort an Etihad airliner, which had a drunken abusive passenger, into Stansted!
In the past we were all sad when we lost our overseas postings to Singapore etc, but the service has to get real, someone has to pay, and I'm sure I am not alone in thinking I pay too much tax!
Get rid of few useless civil servants and senior officers, now there's a start!