Two squadrons of Tornado GR4 ground attack aircraft will be scrapped.
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Two squadrons of Tornado GR4 ground attack aircraft will be scrapped.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle2604027.ece
The Sunday Times
7th Oct 2007
The RAF is to lose a quarter of its frontline bomber force and two bases in new cuts to be pushed through by the Treasury, according to senior defence sources.
Two squadrons of Tornado GR4 ground attack aircraft will be scrapped, cutting the RAF’s frontline squadrons from eight to six. One helicopter base and one training base will also be closed, with the land sold off to raise cash......
The two Tornado GR4 squadrons to be scrapped are expected to be one each from the aircraft’s bases at RAF Marham in Norfolk and RAF Lossiemouth, Morayshire; 13 Squadron, based at Marham, is at present training over Scotland for a deployment to Afghanistan next year.
There are three Tornado GR4 squadrons at each base. A squadron has 12 aircraft with 15 crews and four aircraft held in reserve. The other two frontline ground attack aircraft squadrons are equipped with the ageing Harrier aircraft.
When the RAF are streched so much what does this government think they are doing.
The Sunday Times
7th Oct 2007
The RAF is to lose a quarter of its frontline bomber force and two bases in new cuts to be pushed through by the Treasury, according to senior defence sources.
Two squadrons of Tornado GR4 ground attack aircraft will be scrapped, cutting the RAF’s frontline squadrons from eight to six. One helicopter base and one training base will also be closed, with the land sold off to raise cash......
The two Tornado GR4 squadrons to be scrapped are expected to be one each from the aircraft’s bases at RAF Marham in Norfolk and RAF Lossiemouth, Morayshire; 13 Squadron, based at Marham, is at present training over Scotland for a deployment to Afghanistan next year.
There are three Tornado GR4 squadrons at each base. A squadron has 12 aircraft with 15 crews and four aircraft held in reserve. The other two frontline ground attack aircraft squadrons are equipped with the ageing Harrier aircraft.
When the RAF are streched so much what does this government think they are doing.
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Perhaps CAS spoke too soon. Perhaps we aren't at full stretch after all. Just sort of, stretchy.
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=294821
I wonder what loony scheme the money will go on, apart from a trans London railway designed to erm, keep Britain at the fore of global influence? Madness. The sooner we get rid of these arseholes in g'ment, the better.
Is it true that soon, CAS will be a secondary duty?
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=294821
I wonder what loony scheme the money will go on, apart from a trans London railway designed to erm, keep Britain at the fore of global influence? Madness. The sooner we get rid of these arseholes in g'ment, the better.
Is it true that soon, CAS will be a secondary duty?
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Linton was supposed to be my last tour! You B*stards!
Seriously though, what did we expect from a LAbour government just as we are about to face a major recession? Extra kit? Not on your nelly...
Seriously though, what did we expect from a LAbour government just as we are about to face a major recession? Extra kit? Not on your nelly...
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The two bases to be scrapped have not yet been named but it is believed that one of them is Odiham, Hampshire, home of the RAF’s Chinook fleet. It is seen as being the most vulnerable because its prime position within the extended London commuter belt would make its sale highly profitable.
Also, knowing how awkward the local NIMBY's are is it very likely that planning permission would be granted for building housing on the site, especially considering it took a good few years to get permission to build accommodation for service personnel on the base?
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The NIMBYS can be as awkward as they like. There is a shortage of housing and gordon is looking for prime government land to develop on. Fact is, the planning office would probably find itself the target of some pretty harsh job/budget cuts if they dared get in its way. I cant remember us wanting ID cards/pay as you drive but they still happened!
But I was under the impression that the MoD doesn't own Odiham, the land is leased off a local farmer (at least that was the duty rumour when I worked at Odious).
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hey never mind
could be worse
nah it is worse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
lets get labour out of goverment and replace them with someone who gives a toss about our nation.
cos as it stands we are losing what makes us Great Britain.
nah it is worse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
lets get labour out of goverment and replace them with someone who gives a toss about our nation.
cos as it stands we are losing what makes us Great Britain.
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Bout time we did something like that VinRouge...
All the Armed Forces should walk out...
Nah that can't be right, that's what the Government are hoping for by the sounds of it!
All the Armed Forces should walk out...
Nah that can't be right, that's what the Government are hoping for by the sounds of it!
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So, we have the full set of options now. Let (internal) battle commence!
Treasury cuts 'will shed 6,000 Army jobs'
Labour's secret plans to slash the Navy
RAF cuts to axe quarter of key bombers
I still find it hard to believe that any government could let this sort of internal discord occur whilst fighting 2 wars!
Treasury cuts 'will shed 6,000 Army jobs'
Labour's secret plans to slash the Navy
RAF cuts to axe quarter of key bombers
I still find it hard to believe that any government could let this sort of internal discord occur whilst fighting 2 wars!
I just wonder why MOD haven't moved the 'battlefield helicopter' base to Honington; it would surely make sense as it's under-used at the moment (full of rocks I believe) and it's closer to Colchester, potentially the main customer base since Airborne Forces moved there from Aldershot, which was close to Odiham.
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I can see the bean counters flogging off Odiham but I wonder if any brown jobs are due to return from Germany soonish? Lots of other pongo bases (York/Strensall/Dishforth/Ripon/Catterick etc etc) in N Yorks allready. At least it keeps the runway in MOD hands. Then again, with less and less aircraft ..... 
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The government’s deal to sell 75 Typhoon aircraft to Saudi Arabia and the decision to use the new Typhoon aircraft in Afghanistan mean that some Tornado F3 fighters will have to stay in service for another eight years.
The F3 was due to be scrapped next year and replaced by the Typhoon – formerly known as the Eurofighter. But the controversial al-Salam deal with Riyadh will mean that there are insufficient aircraft to cover Britain’s air defences. Consequently, the F3 will stay in service till 2015.
Ha, life in the old dog yet!!
The F3 was due to be scrapped next year and replaced by the Typhoon – formerly known as the Eurofighter. But the controversial al-Salam deal with Riyadh will mean that there are insufficient aircraft to cover Britain’s air defences. Consequently, the F3 will stay in service till 2015.
Ha, life in the old dog yet!!
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Can anyone tell me why when the MOD is threatened with a reduction in money it always seems to cut front line assets, ships, aircraft, troops etc. yet seems to still keep hold of all the other functions and the nice second line jobs that go with it for more senior officers.
I think we passed the mark where there were more Admirals than ships , more Air Officers than aircraft and more Generals than Divisions, a long time ago. But why do we still keep all of these jobs.
I appreciate it is easy to cut an airfield, or a squadron and more difficult to cut Group Captains and Colonels and then show how much money is saved, but why are there still so many gathered around the trough when the front line assets they are supposed to support are dwindling by the day?
I think we passed the mark where there were more Admirals than ships , more Air Officers than aircraft and more Generals than Divisions, a long time ago. But why do we still keep all of these jobs.
I appreciate it is easy to cut an airfield, or a squadron and more difficult to cut Group Captains and Colonels and then show how much money is saved, but why are there still so many gathered around the trough when the front line assets they are supposed to support are dwindling by the day?