R1 Withdrawal
Two Nimrod UK spy planes reprieved until June at least
The content on the BBC website states:-
Earmarked for potential use over Libya presumably?
Two spy planes due to have been scrapped at the end of March are now to be kept in service for at least another three months, the BBC has learnt. The Ministry of Defence has declined to comment on whether the decision is related to discussions on setting up a no-fly zone over Libya.
The Nimrod R1s are sophisticated spy planes currently deployed in the Middle East. Crews have now been told they will continue in service until June.
The two planes were due to have been officially retired at a ceremony at RAF Waddington in Linconshire on 31 March. But crews at the base have now been told that will not happen and that the planes will continue in service until the end of June at the earliest.
The Ministry of Defence will not comment on the decision beyond saying that in the current circumstances, it is assessing if it might extend the life of what defence experts say are crucial assets.
The Nimrod R1s are sophisticated spy planes currently deployed in the Middle East. Crews have now been told they will continue in service until June.
The two planes were due to have been officially retired at a ceremony at RAF Waddington in Linconshire on 31 March. But crews at the base have now been told that will not happen and that the planes will continue in service until the end of June at the earliest.
The Ministry of Defence will not comment on the decision beyond saying that in the current circumstances, it is assessing if it might extend the life of what defence experts say are crucial assets.
So, are they going to "un-sack" some of the civillians who provide support services for the R1 who have been told their services are not required as of 1st April 2011?
Let alone re-negiotiate support contracts which have been let lapse, or are we assuming there are enough spares available to get by for another 3 months?
Let alone re-negiotiate support contracts which have been let lapse, or are we assuming there are enough spares available to get by for another 3 months?
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So, are they going to "un-sack" some of the civillians who provide support services for the R1 who have been told their services are not required as of 1st April 2011?
Let alone re-negiotiate support contracts which have been let lapse, or are we assuming there are enough spares available to get by for another 3 months?
Let alone re-negiotiate support contracts which have been let lapse, or are we assuming there are enough spares available to get by for another 3 months?
As to the spares issue, there should be quite a few bits left over from the maritime fleet but it might lead to potential situations such as an aircraft scrapping being cancelled the day before it was due so they could take some bits off it.....
Now if only someone could have seen this coming
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I does raise the question if the SDSR deemed they were no longer needed........ WHY...
Are we basing our current armed forces strategy on the assumption that a localised disturbance close to Europe will never happen in the window between Nimrod disbandment and it's replacement coming on line... puts the Carrier fleet and Harrier decisions into perspective too.
Are we basing our current armed forces strategy on the assumption that a localised disturbance close to Europe will never happen in the window between Nimrod disbandment and it's replacement coming on line... puts the Carrier fleet and Harrier decisions into perspective too.
NutLoose,
The SDSR didn't deem that they weren't needed at all. It deemed that the capability provided by the R1 would be replaced by 3 RC-135 Rivet Joints, and that while they were being converted in the US that 51 Sqn crews would fly on USAF RC-135s out of Mildenhall.
I guess that this extension is only until those crews are deemed CR?
Now, which bunch of clowns thought that we could get by with such a capability gap, that's a different matter, but I guess those folk wear blue...
The SDSR didn't deem that they weren't needed at all. It deemed that the capability provided by the R1 would be replaced by 3 RC-135 Rivet Joints, and that while they were being converted in the US that 51 Sqn crews would fly on USAF RC-135s out of Mildenhall.
I guess that this extension is only until those crews are deemed CR?
Now, which bunch of clowns thought that we could get by with such a capability gap, that's a different matter, but I guess those folk wear blue...
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So is anybody (and I mean anybody) hanging their heads in shame, muttering the words “I got it wrong” and then resigning…..or is it a case of hindsight is a wonderfull thing excuse
People who really ought to know keep suggesting to me that there are specific capabilities that will be 'gapped' as a result of the R1/RC-135 swap, but that there is at least one capability that will be reduced/lost as a result, the latter being one that's especially relevant at the moment.
Unless the assumption was that we would never go up against a 'formed state' adversary, with some kind of IADS, ever again, the R1 was always going to be missed.
And some of the most recent 'operational updates' from Afghanistanistanistan seem to have been blowing the R1's trumpet unusually loudly, while an American chum gave me a mild rebuke when I suggested that the R1's Comint capabilities were significantly behind those of the Rivet Joint.
It's nice to think that the old girl will go out riding high, with a bit of a bang rather than an embarrassed whimper.
Unless the assumption was that we would never go up against a 'formed state' adversary, with some kind of IADS, ever again, the R1 was always going to be missed.
And some of the most recent 'operational updates' from Afghanistanistanistan seem to have been blowing the R1's trumpet unusually loudly, while an American chum gave me a mild rebuke when I suggested that the R1's Comint capabilities were significantly behind those of the Rivet Joint.
It's nice to think that the old girl will go out riding high, with a bit of a bang rather than an embarrassed whimper.
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It's always the way we do things.
Rembember GW1? Swansong of the Bucc and Victor. Gone, but fondly remembered, like the Jaguars, Harriers, Nimrod MR4s which we could all do with right now! (and the people that went with them.)
MB
Rembember GW1? Swansong of the Bucc and Victor. Gone, but fondly remembered, like the Jaguars, Harriers, Nimrod MR4s which we could all do with right now! (and the people that went with them.)
MB
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But the RAF Jaguars from Cosford will be flying again soon......well sort of 
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Think that you'll find that we decided to retire the R1 on 31 March 2011 well before this government got into power. For once we can't blame SDSR for this hole.
At least there is a replacement inbound which will probably arrive on time, cost what we agreed to pay for it and do what any other RJ does.
At least there is a replacement inbound which will probably arrive on time, cost what we agreed to pay for it and do what any other RJ does.
