Uk defence cuts

[VulcanDriver]

BBC have announced that all Harriers to be grounded and HMS Ark Royal to be scrapped this year. New carriers to be built but no aircraft for 10 years! One may be sold on completion. Possible purchase of conventional F-35 instead of F-35B. Carriers may be redesgnated assault ships. Minister of Defence says UK will have to rely on Frence carrier support until we get carrier jets.

[kungfuman]

Step up Argentina...

Tories will need a British war to get back in power after the necessary cuts we're being dealt by the government.

(yes, I'm being cynical today)

[Stewart Pearson]

It's bad enough that they are scrapping a carrier, but one has to wonder at their decision making process.

You have 3 carriers, Invincible, Illustrious and Ark Royal.

Invincible has been in mothballs for a while on an 18 month reactivation reserve. Illustrious and Ark Royal remain active.

Of the two Ark Royal is the newest and largest of the class.

Now just who on earth decided that Ark Royal should be the one to go???

[VulcanDriver]

Sky news reports one of the new carriers will be converted for conventional a/c so French naval a/c can operate from it. 100 tanks and heavy artillery to go from Army with 7000 soldiers to go too. Two Scottish airbases could close.

[Stewart Pearson]

Of course, we can cut back on defence as much as we want now, after all there's no threat anymore................or is there?

Pop over to Fightercontrol;

http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/v ... =8&t=20734

You'll get a blow by blow account of 2 Russian Bears which came a'calling this morning. Dutch, Danish and RAF QRAs involved.

BTW: That'll make 2 days running that we've had "uninvited guests!"

[Stewart Pearson]

For those who haven't got over to FC, here is an audio recording of the Dutch QRA during yesterdays intercept;

http://www.milspotters.nl/opnames/208/

[VulcanDriver]

Bloody daft to scrap the nimrod. What will be used to coordinate major sea emergencies like piper alpha etc.

[Firebird]

A good question. My guess would be 5 sqn.

Of course it could just as easily be that disasters have also been a victim of economic cutbacks.

[VulcanDriver]

I wonder if a Nimrod was used to co-ordinate the crew rescue of a fire on a Russian fishing factory ship 280 miles off the coast of Britain? Alll that was said that the Coastguard was leading the rescue.

[Stewart Pearson]

Hi John,

No Nimrod used, the rescue was coordinated by French using a Falcon 20 (Rescue 15)

[VulcanDriver]

I expect to see more of this now we have signed a defence deal with the French