Fox: RAF Will Not Merge With Other Services
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Fox: RAF Will Not Merge With Other Services
Defense News: Fox: RAF Will Not Merge With Other Services
British Defence Secretary Liam Fox has ended speculation that the Royal Air Force could be merged with the other armed services.
In a speech to military and industry leaders in London on July 13, Fox said he has rejected advice urging him to merge air operations fully into other services.
"I am clear that the RAF makes a definable and unique contribution to Britain's defense - a contribution that it would be wrong dispense with," Fox said at the Royal United Services Institute Air Power Conference.
The defense secretary said Britain could not afford to lose the doctrinal understanding of air power and its effects, which is burned deep into collective fiber of the force.
"The value of the RAF is not confined to history - far from it," he said.
The Ministry of Defence recently rolled out a series of proposed structural reforms that stopped short of merging the armed services but said that it intended to create a joint forces command led by a four-star general.
That command will likely pull together some joint assets such as intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR).
Fox said that joint operations are in the "very DNA" of the force.
Doug Barrie, senior air analyst at the International Institute of Strategic Studies, said Fox had taken the right decision. "The use of air power is both served through sustaining an independent organization geared to operating often in a joint environment. Merger would have ill-served the U.K.'s military capability," Barrie said.
Fox went on to praise the role of the Typhoon fighter in the air campaign against Moammar Gadhafi's regime in Libya and said the aircraft's performance was impressing potential export customers, including India, where the jet is in a head-to-head competition with France's Rafale for a multibillion-pound deal.
British Defence Secretary Liam Fox has ended speculation that the Royal Air Force could be merged with the other armed services.
In a speech to military and industry leaders in London on July 13, Fox said he has rejected advice urging him to merge air operations fully into other services.
"I am clear that the RAF makes a definable and unique contribution to Britain's defense - a contribution that it would be wrong dispense with," Fox said at the Royal United Services Institute Air Power Conference.
The defense secretary said Britain could not afford to lose the doctrinal understanding of air power and its effects, which is burned deep into collective fiber of the force.
"The value of the RAF is not confined to history - far from it," he said.
The Ministry of Defence recently rolled out a series of proposed structural reforms that stopped short of merging the armed services but said that it intended to create a joint forces command led by a four-star general.
That command will likely pull together some joint assets such as intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR).
Fox said that joint operations are in the "very DNA" of the force.
Doug Barrie, senior air analyst at the International Institute of Strategic Studies, said Fox had taken the right decision. "The use of air power is both served through sustaining an independent organization geared to operating often in a joint environment. Merger would have ill-served the U.K.'s military capability," Barrie said.
Fox went on to praise the role of the Typhoon fighter in the air campaign against Moammar Gadhafi's regime in Libya and said the aircraft's performance was impressing potential export customers, including India, where the jet is in a head-to-head competition with France's Rafale for a multibillion-pound deal.
Knock yourself out with taking over the helo's; a HELQUEST will be winging your way to ensure you embark for my 7 month deployment, and associated work up period before hand. I don't care what colour uniform you wear, you're still coming to sea with me!
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RAF Will Not Merge With Other Services
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I love it when the fisheads and pongos trot out this 'disband the RAF' guff. If the decision is taken and the assets are divided, there will be noone to operate them. I'd sooner draw the dole than get seen off like the other 2 services. Some of the posters on this forum are intent on a race to the bottom of the scrapheap....
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I like the idea of beoming part of the Army. I would get a smashing new set of uniforms and would be able to go public on my fetish for dressing up like Rupert Bear.
I wouldn't have to think for myself anymore because you never question the boss and when I've feathered my nest for a few years I could join the other Army officers by leaving as soon as possible and get a job in the city!
Sounds good to me.
I wouldn't have to think for myself anymore because you never question the boss and when I've feathered my nest for a few years I could join the other Army officers by leaving as soon as possible and get a job in the city!
Sounds good to me.
Sorry Fatter Gator, your view on Army officers is based on first hand experience or a pathetically naive view based on prejudices that may have been relevant many years ago.
Well done on achieving dick post of the week ward; you must be very proud...
Well done on achieving dick post of the week ward; you must be very proud...
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Ivan I didn't think it would be as limited at that. Nutloose, exactly what I was thinking. An the RAF would adopt the beret as standard head dress and wear cabbage kit. Those in UK could wear blue cabbage kit.
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Maxibon
Just to confirm, you ARE agreeing with fatty gator then?
quote 'your view on Army officers is based on first hand experience' unquote
FATTY - looks like you got a bite
Just to confirm, you ARE agreeing with fatty gator then?
quote 'your view on Army officers is based on first hand experience' unquote
FATTY - looks like you got a bite
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Fatter, you seem to have the size of it although my colonel would have needed an outsize bear outfit.
You forgot to mention retiring at least as a major or more likely a lt col and then getting a job as a consultant for the MOD selling them a reprinted copy of an obscure JSP they had already got.
You forgot to mention retiring at least as a major or more likely a lt col and then getting a job as a consultant for the MOD selling them a reprinted copy of an obscure JSP they had already got.
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
Fatter,
Don't forget you get to bring your fat, wheezy, and flatulent dog to the office as well, as opposed to the other services where they only get taken to the Summer Ball!
Don't forget you get to bring your fat, wheezy, and flatulent dog to the office as well, as opposed to the other services where they only get taken to the Summer Ball!