There was an article in the Sunday Times about the number of FJ sqns getting doubled to 12, coming from 'senior defence sources' as being a cornerstone of the SDSR, we can live in hope!

If the number of FJ squadrons gets doubled to 12, you will probably find that the number of aircraft per squadron gets halved.

Still, more Command slots available.

Going from 8 to 12 is NOT doubling!

Don't any of you actually do maths?

Nope, but going from 6 (as per SDSR2010's FF2020) to 12 is; or alternatively, going from 5 to 10 Typhoon squadrons is also a doubling...smarty pants.

Andyy, I know that the cynicism of pprune dictates there is no such thing as good news, but simply splitting the squadrons into smaller squadrons doesn't actually achieve anything other than increased overall costs does it? The increase is to address a lack of FJ numbers, not public perception.

"Join the RAF, Sail the Seas" - RAF 2020 strap-line.

Some of those fast jet Squadrons may of course have RN number plates, although as they will work for HQ 1 Grp they may be considered RAF by some. The Fleet Air Arm manning situation is seen as healthy compared to some of the other branches, although it's all relative!

Agrreeing with CGB above, with Chinook now regularly going to sea, F-35B going to sea and even talk of trying to embark Puma 2(!) I can see the RAF spending a lot more time at sea in the near future! No wonder they're desparate to get some F-35A in the future....

The problem with FAA manning, particularly fixed wing, is all it takes is 2 or so guys to leave and we go from 'quite healthy' to 'critically undermanned' in the click of a finger.

Wasn't that related to bringing some Tranche 1 out of storage for UK AD purposes?