Back to the SHAR - lets talk figures
A few weeks ago, at the annual "Sports (sic) and Barbeque Evening" at my RNR unit, I found myself having a discussion with one of my Officers (an ex Seaman Officer) about the state of the Navy. One of the topics mentioned was the Sea Harrier. He made a very good point, that the savings are next to nothing as a proportion of the MOD budget but for this we will lose an important, if not essential (given the emphasis on expeditionary operations) capability. Lets look at some numbers....
There are savings that will flow from the decision — £135 million directly and at least another £230 million from not upgrading its engine — but these are not significant sums in terms of the potential operational ramifications.
From a House of Commons Defence Select Commitee Report.
According to the MOD website, the defence budget for 2000/2001 was £23.6 billion ie £23 600 million.
This suggests the total savings from losing the Sea Harrier are about £360 million. Over a ten year period (2002 to 2012) this is £36 milion per year. Using the 2000/2001 figure as a model this works out as about 0.15% of the annual buget. This is only a
rough guess, but its probably not too far off the mark.
I am saying the savings are over ten years as they started when the upgrade was cancelled!
Considering the loss of capability to both the Royal Navy and HM Forces as a whole (not the mention the cost of losing ships and personnel, or not being about to act in a crisis) this is nothing short of a scandal.
Incidently, why doesn't this page of the thread fit on my screen?
Last edited by WE Branch Fanatic; 1st September 2003 at 06:16.