RAF to reduce to 9 front line fast jet squadrons?
Will we be down to less than nine before JSF comes in?
The latest MOD Business Plan shows this
Reduce the Tornado fleet from 40 to 18 Force Elements and Achieve 5th Typhoon squadron Initial Operating Capability (IOC) to accelerate Typhoon Force growth and increase multi-role capability both by March 2015, so how many FJ Squadrons will we have then?
http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/21363...1_06_12_P1.pdf
Reduce the Tornado fleet from 40 to 18 Force Elements and Achieve 5th Typhoon squadron Initial Operating Capability (IOC) to accelerate Typhoon Force growth and increase multi-role capability both by March 2015, so how many FJ Squadrons will we have then?
http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/21363...1_06_12_P1.pdf
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interesting JSF at sea IOC isn't until 2021, but wasn't one of the big reasons for reverting back to the over-complicated turkey was that it would be on the carriers before 2020??
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Jackonicko,
Where did you hear that gen? Standard rumourmill or a substantiated source?
Where did you hear that gen? Standard rumourmill or a substantiated source?
S-D
Have I just read that right - down to 18 Tornados 'elements' by 2015?
Surely that does not mean airframes? There are more than 40 frames on strenght at the moment - can anyone explain what 'elements' means?
I thought one of the reasons for the U turn to keep GR4 rather than Harrier was that the force was much larger and could therefore continue to deploy for long periods without running out of steam.
Surely that does not mean airframes? There are more than 40 frames on strenght at the moment - can anyone explain what 'elements' means?
I thought one of the reasons for the U turn to keep GR4 rather than Harrier was that the force was much larger and could therefore continue to deploy for long periods without running out of steam.
Typer - Elements means the number of GR4s that the UK can deploy on operations, and sustain on operations. Its different to the total number of airframes in the fleet, which will be higher - say 40-50 airframes at a guess to sustain the maintenance and training requirements.
As for other comments ref Jacko, I'll echo them, don't feed the journalist, he's fishing for a story that he'll get paid for to publish in AFM or some other rag.
As for other comments ref Jacko, I'll echo them, don't feed the journalist, he's fishing for a story that he'll get paid for to publish in AFM or some other rag.
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jackonicko
You have to understand that the F-35 force is all going to the FAA. Yes, they'll buy all 135, but over a ten year period - or longer. Given training needs and the usual losses that really only comes down to enough for one front line squadron of 12, plus a 20-strong training squadron. The RAF won't be getting any F-35
By the time they come into service there won't be any Tornados left anyway. The plan is for FE@R to be reduced to 16 by 2015, and withdrawn completely by 2017. By then the RAF will have one fighter airframe - the Typhoon - which be five squadrons, two air defence, three close air support. If long range strike is required then that will be carried out by the navy, probably from land.
The doctrine of the future will be exchangeability, so that while the F-35 will be a naval asset, the RAF will be able to demand first call on the navy to carry out attack missions as /when required. The navy's own priorities wil come second.
Likewise, the RAF will also be able to demand that naval helicopter assets share in the RAFs support helicopter role: the RAF will be able to prioritise use of the RNs's Merlin fleet
You have to understand that the F-35 force is all going to the FAA. Yes, they'll buy all 135, but over a ten year period - or longer. Given training needs and the usual losses that really only comes down to enough for one front line squadron of 12, plus a 20-strong training squadron. The RAF won't be getting any F-35
By the time they come into service there won't be any Tornados left anyway. The plan is for FE@R to be reduced to 16 by 2015, and withdrawn completely by 2017. By then the RAF will have one fighter airframe - the Typhoon - which be five squadrons, two air defence, three close air support. If long range strike is required then that will be carried out by the navy, probably from land.
The doctrine of the future will be exchangeability, so that while the F-35 will be a naval asset, the RAF will be able to demand first call on the navy to carry out attack missions as /when required. The navy's own priorities wil come second.
Likewise, the RAF will also be able to demand that naval helicopter assets share in the RAFs support helicopter role: the RAF will be able to prioritise use of the RNs's Merlin fleet
Last edited by randyrippley; 9th Jul 2012 at 14:38.
