No, not
that...... In any case that would still leave the problem of lack of capability now, and the issue of preparing for the future.
Would the same decisions have been taken if, at the time of SDSR, F35B was still the chosen aircraft for CVF, we had a STOVL future to prepare for, and the Prime Minister had demonstrated his propensity for belligerence and tough talking with respect to
Syria and
Iran?
Likewise, if the three Service chiefs had been in charge of their own budgets, and had the freedom to make choices based on their priorities, would things have been different?
I forgot that sometime during July or August, I had a quick look at a defence/aviation magazine (cannot remember which one) whilst passing through a newsagents. I gather that the USMC is intending to operate the AV8B until 2025-2030, and that of the 72 Harriers the UK sold to the US, 16 are still intact and meant to be flown as such, as noted
here.
Perhaps MOD can think outside the box? This not completely sensible
suggestion of building extra patrol vessels suggests that the Government might want to be seen to be doing something to reduce the effects of the SDSR cuts, although it would be of very limited utility - building cheap and only lightly armed vessels with limited range (so no counter piracy or counter narcotics operations far from the UK), that cannot do a frigate's job. Better to address the gap in carrier strike capability (the firepower of carrier aircraft would partly make up for having less frigates with Harpoon, Sea Wolf, 4.5" gun etc) - and the issues associated with preparing for a STOVL future....
Also, having a fixed wing capability would help make up for the loss from 2016 of the ASaCs Sea King. This has recently demonstrated its utility in working with surface ships - see
here.
“The complementary capabilities of Type 45 and Sea King Mk 7 mean that we can assess air and surface activity over a wide area of the ocean,” said Diamond’s Commanding Officer Cdr Ian Clarke.
An armed fixed wing aircraft can not only assess, but also get a visual ID, and engage...
We really need to consider getting some sort of V/STOL jet on the deck of
Illustrious/
Queen Elizabeth this decade - something which could be easily achieved, if only the politicians could act with imagination and courage.