I disagree Jayand, it isn't.
An aircraft isn't the weapon system, a pilot isn't the weapon system, indeed, without the rest of the bits of the machine, even the weapon isn't the weapon system. Our young RAF officers are taught that EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is needed and plays its part to support the delivery of EFFECT, whatever that might need to be. Logistics and support are just as crucial to the end result, often more so, as history has shown many times.
Frankly, Sharkey's incredulous and crass ignorance betrays his excellent performance in the South Atlantic. His lamentable offerings to the Phoenix Think Tank are as much an embarrassment to the FAA and RN, as they are to those in the RAF. That view came almost verbatim out of the mouth of a very senior and well-respected RN officer.
Last edited by MSOCS; 21st Mar 2017 at 14:33.