All the talk of even more defence cuts is depressing - particularly as we seem to have got ourselves into what could be a very lengthy commitment. Perhaps if the Prime Minister had not intervened at the last minute before the SDSR announcement was due (
source) then would we be in this position? Perhaps reduced numbers of Tornados AND Harriers would have delivered greater savings?
In Libya related news, the
amphibious exercise in the Med has started. Cyprus is not too many days sailing distance from Libya - is this part of cranking up the pressure against Tripoli?
As part of this, Apache has fired Hellfire at sea
for the first time. This is interesting for three reasons:
1. It suggests possible use of Hellfire against FIACs and other asymetric threats - in other words the ship with a large deck (CVS/LPH/some RFAs - and LPD if hangar not essential) can provide a degree of force protection that a ship with a single helicopter cannot. A single boghammer with RPGs or even a explosive laden boat is not much of a threat - swarms of FIACs are, which is why we need carriers for future littoral operations. See
this (PDF format) paper for more.
2. Apache/Hellfire could be based aboard
Ocean and flown against shore targets. A big deck that moves is nice, isn't it Mr Cameron?
3. The story proves that the complex task of aircraft/ship integration (and weapons) is no easy feat:
Despite the majority of 656 Squadron having seen recent service in Afghanistan, the maritime environment presents many new challenges. Understanding shipborne life and learning new procedures for the preparation and movement of ammunition from the ship’s magazine to the deck, efficiently and safely, was no small achievement.
Apache first went to sea back in 2004, as
Navy News reported back then. So that is SEVEN years from the first embarkations to the first Hellfire firings....