And what is then, in your opinion, the "right balance"?
What I want to see is the Armed Forces protected and not trashed and which I fear may happen.
Re: the maritime patrol aircraft, this was just one of many MoD c*ck-ups (on a grand scale) and was never planned to have happened (the abrupt decommissioning of the Nimrod). It was a purely political move. However I know for a fact that the Boeing Poseidon is being touted as a potential replacement. This is where a pro-military person in a position of responsibility can be of effect.