Originally Posted by
gijoe
If 1000 RM posts are likely to be cut, posts that have delivered lots of military capability over the last 20 years, then it really is time to have a long hard think about whether a replacement is needed.
Given that resource decisions have now been pushed down to the Service Chiefs and HQs, I doubt that any decision on Hawks would read across to resourcing for other Services' capabilities.
FWIW, other than the Reds filling that overseas influence role, I've long wondered whether there wasn't a role for a few sqns of cheaper aircraft such as the Hawk T2 that could flex across a large proportion of the operational spectrum. In which case, the Reds' aircraft would be just one part of the overall deal and could be used as wargoers should the situation demand.