Yep just read the RAF careers page on the web, states a. Sac tech course is three years BUT. That includes everything, the Mech Tech course appears cut down as it is listed as 5 months, and that must cover AF and Engines, in my time a single mech course would cover the same time period. Then your first tour is counted as part of your apprenticeship, followed by a year at Halton, which again previously covered just one trade, so training wise it has reduced in effect by half.
Aircraft Technician (Mechanical) - Engineering and technical careers - RAF Careers
Interesting to see basic training is now 10 weeks, that's up from 6 when I went through it.