Just read an article on the BBC about Russian plans for a nuclear torpedo that were accidentally aired on TV, might be wanting that MPA...

Today's Times" says Osborne is trying to take control of the Successor SSBN programme away from the MoD - appaerently the Cabinet have no faith they can deliver it on time and on budget

Always had increments.

Originally Cranwell flt lt had 6 increments. Supplementary flt lt had increments to 38/16. Branch had mark time pay then annual increments.

Around 1972 AFPRB said that with the single list there should only be annual increments for the expected time to next promotion - 6 yrs flt lt - sqn ldr. The existing increments were compressed so the 6 yr man suddenly got 16 yrs of increments. Spec aircrew also had annual increments.

More recently people who didn't know the original rationale started to argue for more annual increments.

Officers yes, Airmen no. Didn't come in till pay 2000 for airmen.

From the PM's speech at the Guildhall last night:

"...We know we need the ability to carry out airstrikes so this money will provide for more fighter aircraft........ All these measures - and more - come from the choice that we make to spend on our security to deal head-on with the wide range of threats that we face today."

Full text at www.gov.uk/government/speeches/lord-mayors-banquet-2015-prime-ministers-speech

No mention of MPA/MMA.

AW&ST (Ares) has an SDSR rumour page up and running. Not much on it, more asking than telling....

".....In that environment of secrecy, this blog will look at some of the talking points which may feature in the SDSR. It should not be taken as fact however, but more of an analysis of rumors, statements and information which has come to light in the last few months. It’s up to you, the reader, to give us kudos if our suppositions come true or indeed throw your thoughts into the mix."

Remark in the comments section that the 8 Merlin airframe upgrades are essential/associated with the ASAC/Crowsnest programme.

MPA/MMA - they're not sure if there will be an order, a completion or a statement of future need.

ISR/ED3 - Both open depending on the above.

"Aviation Week is confident that the Shadow will be retained in the SDSR and Britain will hang on to its Reapers until they are replaced with 20 examples of the certifiable model Reaper purchased under the Protector program.... The future of the Sentinel is far less certain however and much depends on the choice of a maritime patrol/multi-mission aircraft......

Also unclear is the future of the U.K.’s E-3D Sentry...... One suggestion is that if the U.K. invests in the P-8, it could also look the 737 AEW&C solution, because of the commonalities between the airframes."

Typhoon - they reckon they will get the additional 2 squadrons

"The Tranche 1s would be retained for U.K. air defense, training and as red-air aggressors for other units. First evidence of this was the recent transfer of Tranche 1 jets to the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic in September 2015, six years after the first four aircraft were sent down there. Rumor suggests that 30 of around 50 Tranche 1 aircraft will be retained. The biggest challenge for the Royal Air Force will be manning the squadrons however."

F-35 - Pure guess work.

"The secrecy around Britain’s F-35 plans has been a tough nut to crack.......the U.K. defense ministry is currently planning for 48 aircraft for now. However some rumors suggest even this number could fall further and would support the carrier strike capability only..... Whether the SDSR 2015 will provide more clarity on the F-35 plans is unclear, after all, by the time of the next report in 2020, the aircraft will have only just achieved its U.K. initial operating capability from land, based on current timetables."

Helicopters

"Britain has heavily invested in its helicopters during and since the Afghan conflict, so it is difficult to see what changes the SDSR could bring about. Conceivably, the SDSR could impact the numbers of modernized Apache attack helicopter planned. Current planning is for 50 AH-64E-model aircraft down from 65. It could potentially revise plans for the U.K.’s fleet of 60 CH-47 Chinooks, some critics have suggested that the U.K. now has too many Chinooks.......

Defense officials could also retrospectively upgrade some of the eight EH101 Merlin anti-submarine helicopters that were not upgraded to Mk.2 standard. "

Thoughts to the Sea King Mk7 continuing to the planned 2018 date?

How relevant is the job vs the savings in fully closing down the Sea King next year?

Radio 4 this morning mentioned a huge rise in funding for UK special forces, including apparently new helicopters. Can't find anything about it elsewhere.

Re: F-35 - Those fighter aircraft Cameron was mentioning, perhaps with T1 Typhoons kept on as well?

8 Merlin to upgrade to Mk2 standard - remember that CROWSNEST, the replacement for the SkASaC and a key component of the future Carrier Strike capability, is a role fit to Merlin Mk 2. Given the sterling and extremely relevant work done by the SkASaC force I do not see them being retired until CROWSNEST is ready to replace them. Investment in ISTAR platforms should cover this capability off.

Is there any room to shrink the footprint of the JHC empire? With half of Merlin departed to the RN, then is a merger of Benson with Odiham not feasible?

Haart,

Do you really think you can fit 83 helicopters into either Benson or Odiham? Add in all the other resident units as well, and they just don't fit.

Pr00ne

Logic like that didn't stop the madness that has become Brize Norton for the Truckies!!! :ugh:

LJ

Tranche 1 Typhoons
 

Please forgive my ignorance, but would we not normally seek to upgrade existing airframes to the latest standard? Can these be brought up to Tranche 2 /3 specification?

LJ: what madness? There will only be 7 sqns & 68 large airframes at the Secret Oxfordshire airbase. There's plenty of room......

Just jumping back to the pay and retention issues for a moment, I have to report that neither I nor those around me have seen anything just recently that would suggest any work in these areas. To be honest, I wouldn't expect there to be anything much in SDSR; those would probably come later once SDSR has been announced and Manning can then adjust their plan to meet the new requirements and examine what measures might be required.

If your expecting a bonus anytime soon, don't hold your breath.

pr00ne,


OK, fair point so why don’t we nimrod the Puma, eh? We’ve got Chinooks, the whole CHF fleet and whatever they are doing with the Lynx, so let’s delete Puma and save a bit of dosh for more important things. Like aircraft for the superpower rivalry thing.


Or, thinking outside the box, start multi-roling RW as CAS/AI. Because Assad is doing it with his airframes, EPWIV out the rear ramp of a chinnie. Jobs a good’un?

Did someone call?

A few years back, before it became a giant mirror and before it was to be the Very Big Techie School, wasn't there a plan to move the RAF's SH en bloc to Lyneham?

I do hope so, both from a purely selfish perspective, but also from the bigger capability perspective. The latest, and what I can only regard as almost intentionally alarmist cost cutting rumour from my end if the trench concerns X-factor. We're running on fumes and the good will tank is empty, that really would kill the Military off in any sense as an option for a sane person looking for a decent career.

Frankly I'd be over the moon if it were taken off the air. Mind you, I never watch ITV anyway.