Scotland would get 18 fast jets plus 26 helos if it splits

[Hummingfrog]

Scotland probably doesn't need a large air force, army or navy but the trouble is the SNP have "promised" that all the present bases will be kept open to try and maintain the mirage that come independence nothing will change - those that have jobs will keep them and those on benefits won't be limited to the measly 1% increase that the horrible UK government is imposing - under independence you'll get a bigger rise than that.

But and it is a big but who is going to pay for this largesse - oil won't and anyway come 50yrs from now that will be a faint memory so you can't base independence on a diminishing finite resource

Fortunately the majority of Scots aren't stupid and see through the lies ( Salmond " we have legal advice about Europe" on no he hasn't) and rhetoric of the SNP and the polls remain pretty consistent at only 30% or less for independence.

HF

[M609]

Out of interest, what do the Norwegians do for AAR capability if they're operating off the North Cape for extended periods?

No AAR. More than the first QRA flight might appear before the first one has to head for nearest MIL divert though.
Banak/ENNA (just south of the cape) has been known to hot pit a F-16 or two over the years.

However, our "friends" to the east tend to hug the coast fairly close.

[Easy Street]

I think NZ is a far better model than Ireland

Hmmm.... NZ is out of pratical range of aircraft based anywhere other than Oz or on board a carrier. Scotland is very definitely in range of aircraft based in Russia, who given free rein would undoubtedly come and snoop on communications, take pictures of stuff, and generally take the p1ss. I wouldn't call that a reasonable basis for comparison.

[rab-k]

Originally Posted by Hummingfrog

bases will be kept open

Where the 'air wing' is concerned, shouldn't that read 'base', as in singular, as in what the current UK Govt. intends? Pretty easy commitment to make by the SNP, given what assets will actually be in place in Scotland come 2016, especially now that the Army's plans for Kirknewton have also been kicked into touch. 'Fortress Scotland' will have been consigned to the history books by 2016, irrespective of the referendum's outcome in 2014.

Be wary of using the term "majority", the most recent poll I saw showed 48% in favour of the status quo. What does that make the other 52?

[Hummingfrog]

Rab-k

Ah yes the "yes campaign" spin - it doesn't matter how many people say don't know they will always be converted in the end

Be wary of using the term "majority", the most recent poll I saw showed 48% in favour of the status quo. What does that make the other 52?

the other 52% is made up of approx 24-30% yes and the rest don't knows - so it only needs 3% of the don't knows to say NO and sanity will prevail

HF