Shall we try to return to the topic?
Liam Fox has admitted that the Libyan campaign may go on for some time -
here in the
Telegraph. This increases the chance of needing to relieve FNS
Charles De Gaulle....
If maintaining our carrier capability was deemed to be so important for the future, why did the MoD feel it could take a "holiday" from having one available until 2020? To judge by France's successful deployment of its Charles de Gaulle carrier throughout the current Libya conflict, it would have been useful if British commanders had been in a position to deploy one too. It is just another example of the muddled thinking that has rendered the entire SDSR process a farce.
Since carrier related skills as such a key issue the Government needs to think about how to maintain those skills. Lease a dozen or so AV8Bs in exchange for our old Harriers - as suggested
here and
here, continue to embark US, Italian, or Spanish Harriers, or even consider the
RNR proposal again - possibly combined with one of the other options. The Future Reserves 2020 paper is due soon and there was talk of the Reserve forces maintaining capabilities not presently being used? If the First Sea Lord backed the idea then it shows how concerned Their Lordships are.
I understand the Apaches from
Ocean, with support from her Sea Kings and Lynx, have been busy again this week. I think that only a few Apaches were marinised - so how will they be relieved?