Extra FJ for Afghanistan

[mystic_meg]

See here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5357260.stm

Is one more enough?

[SASless]

How many Harriers in the inventory that are combat capable?

Can the RAF not spare more than seven aircraft?

The guys are in a shooting war out there and in my view there is never "too much CAS"....what prevents sending Squadrons (plural) to the area and ensure the guys on the ground get the help they need?

I am not sniping here....but really concerned about the level of support the ground guys seem to be getting.....or not getting.

[airborne_artist]

1 and 4 Squadrons are established each with 12 airframes (and a T10 each).

You'd have thought it was possible to send slightly more than 29.2% of the capability.

Don't they know there's a war on?

[skyhigh]

How about having a chat with some Harrier guys and seeing how much more Afghanistan action they would be able to do!!! They are already doing loads, as well as the boat and other commitments. It's not just a case of sending more jets, the support is stretched as well as the Sqns themselves. What we need is a larger Air Force, more money and then we can properly protect the boys on the ground. Oh yeah ....... to that!!

[enginesuck]

Of course Just send all of them......

And when exactly are the crews going to have any R&R. Or see their Families this year....

[SASless]

Maybe the truth is coming out....a 30% deployment of the total strength is significant although the number of aircraft deployed is woefully small.

A similar deployment of USAF/USN/USMC aircraft would result in a few more than seven aircraft.

At what point does "downsizing" create a situation whereby adequate combat power cannot be deployed?

[ZH875]

Sending more....It wasn't long since the labour treasury, er I mean government was going to bring all the harriers home.

Must be a war on or something.

[lukeylad]

I heard some where that 800 sqaudron were going to go out there later this year this true??

[stickmonkeytamer]

800 NAS go out very soon- most have been out before as part of the Op, albeit as part of other Sqns...

Such a shame that the swimming pool that was put up by the DetCo last year(then condemned and torn down!) is gone. Such a waste of money when fans in each room would have been a far better way to boost morale... £700 later he realised that no-one else wanted the pool except the mosquitoes!!! A bronze bust of his head outside the DAG would have been a simpler legacy (he was a Nav afterall).

SMT

[Hammer Head Too]

I have a feeling we are to see plenty more threads like this as our Forces are systematically "downsized" by our current political masters. Leaning and civilianisation have also taken its toll. Seven Harriers to support how many ground troops?? I also have a feeling we will have to loose a campaign (or at least get badly mauled) before Joe Public and the Blairites wake up and see what's actually going on. I just despair for the families.
HH2

[StopStart]

Seems a little poor to only be able to field 7 jets in what is, effectively, a war. I know the chaps on the ground would like to have more "CAS" on tap, as it were, but it seems that we can't provide it.
Not knocking the great job being done by the sqn folk out there now, just commenting on the lugubrious state of the modern RAF....

Never mind, with any luck a top neddy will come along shortly and tell us that there is a light at the end of the tunnel as Typhoon will be operational in a few years time

[Talk Wrench]

As any engineer will tell you.

The real reason for sending the seventh aircraft out is purely to provide spares for the other six.

Haven't you heard of Christmas Trees before?






TW

[mikip]

Looks like they'll have to send the BBMF soon

[L J R]

...and 2 new UCAVs won't entirely cut it untill they are armed.

[FJJP]

When's the Typhoon going to be able to drop bombs/rockets/strafe?

Because if it doesn't, soon, a lot of very nasty questions are going to be asked at a very nasty high level...

[RileyDove]

Thing is if we had loads of jets out there the guys on the ground wouldn't appreciate them!

[Right here right now]

Riley,
I'm really surprised you think that, unless you're being sarcastic. Have a chat to the guys you're supporting and find out what their opinion of the CAS is. I've spoken to guys out there who have been overwhelmed at the sound of fast air when things are getting a bit nasty so either you're fishing for compliments or you don't really understand the effect that it has.

[StopStart]

I don't think he was being serious...

Having spoken to many of the guys myself I know quite how grateful they are for close air. I also know they'd like more of it, closer at hand. Which is why I still find it a bit hopeless that out of the large fleet of noisy things we have in the RAF we can only cobble together 7 to go on ops.

Lucky there's not a war on eh?

[orca]

Sadly we're in an age of very small numbers of assets. If you want to adhere to 'harmony' then 1/5th of your assets is your ceiling. Now we're only acknowledging a commitment up to April 2007 so why can't we throw more at the problem?

I think the answer is that we're actually going to be there far longer....so actually we're overstretching with what we've got.

I am sure i am not alone in shedding a tear at the fact that seven deployed jets is 'overstretching'.

I know i am not alone in wishing the boys and girls our very best. Come home safely.

[Pontius Navigator]

Couple of sqns of Jaguar?

Oh, forgot, we don't have a couple.