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Old 6th Feb 2015, 08:05
  #10 (permalink)  
Easy Street
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
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It would take quite a reversal of thinking to go from a position where the third GR4 squadron was extended only a few months ago to one where all 3 get deleted in SDSR. Especially since there is a widespread sense in all 3 services that the FJ force has been cut too far already. Until Typhoon weapons integration is completed (and until they're not needed for deterrence operations in eastern Europe) then Tornado will continue to meet our leaders' needs to intervene in the Middle East - which the recently-retired ambassador to Saudi tells us will be struggling with internal conflict for at least another 10-15 years. Whether you think we should be involved or not, I can't see the HMG allowing its foreign policy standing to be affected by considerations of fast-jet collision avoidance systems.

One line in the Typhoon CWS answer by Phillip Dunne is insightful. We are told that purely mathematical risk assessments are frowned upon, so this idea that "we are not aware of any fast jet anywhere in the world being fitted with CWS" says to me that a qualitative approach is being prepared for adoption once again.
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