so Jimlad
You're saying that the 50-strong (or whatever it was ) fleet of Harriers was down to a a dozen or so of combat airworthy examples BEFORE the SDSR?
Or have I misunderstood?
Is that due to lack of funding? Or a managerial f'up? Or deliberate attrition by the management to prevent maritime air?
I can just see the discussion with the PM "Well you may as well scrap the Harrier fleet 'cos we've made them all unserviceable anyway"