UK Defence Equipment Plan 2021-2031
Totally agree, But they won't! They will continue to make grand statements and gestures that we cannot back up whilst retiring existing equipment without replacement and reducing the size and capability of the forces in the name of economic expediency.
The problem , as ever, is how do you pay for it? When The Tories are already spending the highest proportion of GDP since Atlee's time and are desperate to get back to "low levels of taxation and Labour knows they will be crucified by the Press as "tax & spend" there is no national agreement on how much we can raise. Suggest cutting pensioner benefits, or education or the NHS and see the storm that descends on you. And yet this is where the money is actually spent.
Modern kit and modern people cost serious money - promises, speeches and photo opportunities are dirt cheap
Modern kit and modern people cost serious money - promises, speeches and photo opportunities are dirt cheap
The govt should delay the plan to remove Typhoon Tr1s
I think you'll find that the latest OSD is a reversal of the earlier reversal which was a reversal of the two previous OSD's. The upshot being that as a result of the IR, the RAF is going to lose 40 Typhoons that it thought it was going to have for many more years.
Money raised for PPE and Respirator supply, furlough funding and business support through Covid is the lie to what you claim. It can be, and has been, done.
The Government is about to withdraw and scrap 40 RAF Typhoons without replacement. The replies to the PM in the house today about defence spending show clearly that there is going to be no reduction or delay in the cut backs and capability gaps this Government has planned for UK defence.
" It can be, and has been, done."
I agree - but that was done with the overwhelming support of the public - they all thought they were going to die.
I currently live in what could be described as a Tory heartland - but apart from me there is only one other person I know locally who is even vaguely defence orientated. We have one Councillor who served in the RAF - none of the others have served, worked or have family serving as far as I know. If I mention defence they all glaze over - just look at the newspapers - most of them report whats happening but apart from the Telegraph there's really no call for more kit or more troops.
I agree - but that was done with the overwhelming support of the public - they all thought they were going to die.
I currently live in what could be described as a Tory heartland - but apart from me there is only one other person I know locally who is even vaguely defence orientated. We have one Councillor who served in the RAF - none of the others have served, worked or have family serving as far as I know. If I mention defence they all glaze over - just look at the newspapers - most of them report whats happening but apart from the Telegraph there's really no call for more kit or more troops.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
What difference would keeping the extra Typhoon squadrons make to what is happening in Ukraine - or possible future events in Eastern Europe?
Boots on the ground at least provide a return to Tripwire, the threat of confrontation with NATO and escalation. Not sure an extra 4-6 Typhoons deployed to Akrotiri or Rumania would do that.
One of the first things that Putin and Biden agreed is that, under no circumstances, would nuclear weapons be deployed or used in an6 confrontation. One one side that is a relief - on the other, without Tripwire or Flexible Response and the run down of NATO conventional forces in Central Europe, it leaves the east horribly exposed to a conventional attack.
Boots on the ground at least provide a return to Tripwire, the threat of confrontation with NATO and escalation. Not sure an extra 4-6 Typhoons deployed to Akrotiri or Rumania would do that.
One of the first things that Putin and Biden agreed is that, under no circumstances, would nuclear weapons be deployed or used in an6 confrontation. One one side that is a relief - on the other, without Tripwire or Flexible Response and the run down of NATO conventional forces in Central Europe, it leaves the east horribly exposed to a conventional attack.
What difference would keeping the extra Typhoon squadrons make to what is happening in Ukraine - or possible future events in Eastern Europe?
Boots on the ground at least provide a return to Tripwire, the threat of confrontation with NATO and escalation. Not sure an extra 4-6 Typhoons deployed to Akrotiri or Rumania would do that.
One of the first things that Putin and Biden agreed is that, under no circumstances, would nuclear weapons be deployed or used in an6 confrontation. One one side that is a relief - on the other, without Tripwire or Flexible Response and the run down of NATO conventional forces in Central Europe, it leaves the east horribly exposed to a conventional attack.
Boots on the ground at least provide a return to Tripwire, the threat of confrontation with NATO and escalation. Not sure an extra 4-6 Typhoons deployed to Akrotiri or Rumania would do that.
One of the first things that Putin and Biden agreed is that, under no circumstances, would nuclear weapons be deployed or used in an6 confrontation. One one side that is a relief - on the other, without Tripwire or Flexible Response and the run down of NATO conventional forces in Central Europe, it leaves the east horribly exposed to a conventional attack.
No material difference to what is happening in Ukraine whatsoever.
But the lie that Johnson and co keep on trotting out about defence spending and capability must be a huge comfort to Putin as he notes constant UK capability reductions. To at least halt this nonsense would go some small way to signalling resolve and ensuring that he goes no further than Ukraine. It would also be a huge comfort to folk in places like Estonia.
" It can be, and has been, done."
I agree - but that was done with the overwhelming support of the public - they all thought they were going to die.
I currently live in what could be described as a Tory heartland - but apart from me there is only one other person I know locally who is even vaguely defence orientated. We have one Councillor who served in the RAF - none of the others have served, worked or have family serving as far as I know. If I mention defence they all glaze over - just look at the newspapers - most of them report whats happening but apart from the Telegraph there's really no call for more kit or more troops.
I agree - but that was done with the overwhelming support of the public - they all thought they were going to die.
I currently live in what could be described as a Tory heartland - but apart from me there is only one other person I know locally who is even vaguely defence orientated. We have one Councillor who served in the RAF - none of the others have served, worked or have family serving as far as I know. If I mention defence they all glaze over - just look at the newspapers - most of them report whats happening but apart from the Telegraph there's really no call for more kit or more troops.
As to only the Telegraph calling for more kit or more troops, if you had listened or watched the various speeches in the House this morning in response to the statement on Ukraine by the PM, you would have seen many such calls emanating from all across the house.
Suspicion breeds confidence
Last I heard they are going in 2025. They could easily be extended if needed. Why not give some to Ireland to plug their air defence gap?
What difference would keeping the extra Typhoon squadrons make to what is happening in Ukraine - or possible future events in Eastern Europe?
Boots on the ground at least provide a return to Tripwire, the threat of confrontation with NATO and escalation. Not sure an extra 4-6 Typhoons deployed to Akrotiri or Rumania would do that.
One of the first things that Putin and Biden agreed is that, under no circumstances, would nuclear weapons be deployed or used in an6 confrontation. One one side that is a relief - on the other, without Tripwire or Flexible Response and the run down of NATO conventional forces in Central Europe, it leaves the east horribly exposed to a conventional attack.
Boots on the ground at least provide a return to Tripwire, the threat of confrontation with NATO and escalation. Not sure an extra 4-6 Typhoons deployed to Akrotiri or Rumania would do that.
One of the first things that Putin and Biden agreed is that, under no circumstances, would nuclear weapons be deployed or used in an6 confrontation. One one side that is a relief - on the other, without Tripwire or Flexible Response and the run down of NATO conventional forces in Central Europe, it leaves the east horribly exposed to a conventional attack.
When the shooting starts, one of 2 things will happen - Russia will start to 'win' or start to 'lose'. If they win quickly in Ukraine, will he try to ride his luck and push into NATO territory? If he does, NATO will respond and I believe at this point Russia will start to lose. Putin, as I have said before, would rather die than see this happen. If he believes that Russia is in danger of failing in his ambitions and of being 'beaten', then I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that he would use Nukes without hesitation. This is his life's quest and his enduring legacy - he will do anything to succeed.
Right now, as he readies tanks and troops, we respond with paper threats and sanctions - he must be laughing all the way to Kiev...or Warsaw. He has proven beyond doubt that he is irrational and untruthful. Those who take comfort in his statement regarding non-use of Nukes are naiive and deluded, IMHO.
I believe that whatever will happen ,will happen quickly - probably before any of the cuts take effect.
I know, I don't believe that either.
In the Air Command Section:
"Funding for new A400M Atlas and additional purchase of F35B Lightning II (beyond the 48 the Department is already committed to) is not included in Air Command’s planned spend here and is held centrally."
"Air Command will retire equipment that has increasingly limited utility in the digital and future operating environment. This will include rationalising older fleets to improve efficiency, retiring Typhoon Tranche 1 by 2025, and Hawk T1. Air Command will also retire the BAe146 as planned by 2022, take the C130 Hercules out of service by 2023 and retire the E-3D Sentry in 2021."
"Funding for new A400M Atlas and additional purchase of F35B Lightning II (beyond the 48 the Department is already committed to) is not included in Air Command’s planned spend here and is held centrally."
"Air Command will retire equipment that has increasingly limited utility in the digital and future operating environment. This will include rationalising older fleets to improve efficiency, retiring Typhoon Tranche 1 by 2025, and Hawk T1. Air Command will also retire the BAe146 as planned by 2022, take the C130 Hercules out of service by 2023 and retire the E-3D Sentry in 2021."
FB
"you would have seen many such calls emanating from all across the house."
yes and many from members that in the past have tried to cut costs and expenditure
I don't honestly think that MP's have any real influence any more in the UK - they're lobby fodder for the party management and the public think they're as trustworthy as used car salesmen
yes and many from members that in the past have tried to cut costs and expenditure
I don't honestly think that MP's have any real influence any more in the UK - they're lobby fodder for the party management and the public think they're as trustworthy as used car salesmen
"you would have seen many such calls emanating from all across the house."
yes and many from members that in the past have tried to cut costs and expenditure
I don't honestly think that MP's have any real influence any more in the UK - they're lobby fodder for the party management and the public think they're as trustworthy as used car salesmen
yes and many from members that in the past have tried to cut costs and expenditure
I don't honestly think that MP's have any real influence any more in the UK - they're lobby fodder for the party management and the public think they're as trustworthy as used car salesmen
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You would think they would rip it up and start again as the world situation has changed in the last month significantly.