Originally Posted by tally_target

Originally Posted by tropper66

After what Ainsworth said on December 15th I would not be to keen on long term planing if I was in the RAF now

Good job I'm in the Cavalry then. Do you really think the RAF is going to get the chop? Mate your a fool .

I don't think that the RAF are going to be canned in its entirety but (for example) look at the mission of Eurofighter/Typhoon - air-to-air - wtf? Against who are we likely to be fighting any conflict that has any a2a element?

Its possible that the requirement for the F15 and the Typhoon originated within 10 years of each other, but the sad fact (for UK procurement performance) is that the Eagle has been in service in the last four decades and proved itself in action.

Does anyone know how much A-10s destined for the National Guard would have cost us off-the-shelf?

Originally Posted by meridian

Originally Posted by jagman

Jaguar might have been quite useful but we didn't need them anymore and got rid....

I am sure I read somewhere the MoD had put out a requirement for a second had Jag for Cranfield

You couldn't make it up

And I think the Indians are upgrading all of theirs(?)

Originally Posted by tally_target

Or keep GR 9 until Afghan is finished! Don't forgetGR 4 is doing well in Afghan. Maybe this is all a moot point, we've still got a great capibility in afghan with the Tonka.

Fair point.

Originally Posted by tally_target

Or keep GR 9 until Afghan is finished! Don't forgetGR 4 is doing well in Afghan. Maybe this is all a moot point, we've still got a great capibility in afghan with the Tonka.

After spending nearly a billion quid on UOR's for Harrier I did wonder why they didnt keep them in service and rotate the crews

But instead we spent another small fortune on the GR4

As I said above, we need to vigorously attack the economics of what we have, not embarking on flights of fantasy about new kit.

The very fact that we have needed to spend untold millions on kit for CAS when that should have been a core mission requirement is pretty bad in itself.

Originally Posted by meridian

Originally Posted by jagman

Jaguar might have been quite useful but we didn't need them anymore and got rid....

I am sure I read somewhere the MoD had put out a requirement for a second had Jag for Cranfield

You couldn't make it up

Given CDS' background, I'm surprised a squadron or three of JPs haven't been sourced. :D

Originally Posted by tally_target

Originally Posted by tropper66

After what Ainsworth said on December 15th I would not be to keen on long term planing if I was in the RAF now

Good job I'm in the Cavalry then. Do you really think the RAF is going to get the chop? Mate your a fool .

Its not getting the chop but its not going to have many combat aircraft At present we only have 5 GR4 sqns, 3 F3 sqns,2 Typhoon sqns, and the joint Harrier force , after the defence cuts there will be one less GR4 and the Harriers gone, and all the Nimrods are to be grounded in March the RAF Merlins are going to the FAA. So they can buy 20 Chinooks and a C17

Originally Posted by meridian

The very fact that we have needed to spend untold millions on kit for CAS when that should have been a core mission requirement is pretty bad in itself.

The lesson wasn't learned after GW1. We had to use "borrowed" US KL113's during it and for years afterwards.

Decent practical CAS/FAC equipment has always been underfunded and consequently fancy IDM etc kit was over funded.

A theme not dissimilar to the actual ac themselves?

[quote="tropper66"]

Originally Posted by tally_target

Originally Posted by tropper66

After what Ainsworth said on December 15th I would not be to keen on long term planing if I was in the RAF now

Good job I'm in the Cavalry then. Do you really think the RAF is going to get the chop? Mate your a fool .

Its not getting the chop but its not going to have many combat aircraft At present we only have 5 GR4 sqns, 3 F3 sqns,2 Typhoon sqns, and the joint Harrier force , after the defence cuts there will be one less GR4 and the Harriers gone, and all the Nimrods are to be grounded in March the RAF Merlins are going to the FAA. So they can buy 20 Chinooks and a C17[/quote

Your facts are .... Not facts. 7 GR-4 Sqns (2,9,12,13,14,31,617 and 15 as ocu) I know I talk to them most weeks)and one OCU Sqn F3 has gone months ago , iv Sqn harrier are going 31st march leaving Two GR 9 sqns and 20sqn as the Ocu. Mate get your facts and stats correct . Your losing the little credibility you had on this topic.

Originally Posted by meridian

Originally Posted by jagman

Jaguar might have been quite useful but we didn't need them anymore and got rid....

I am sure I read somewhere the MoD had put out a requirement for a second had Jag for Cranfield

You couldn't make it up

You could

I read a peice about a bloke who had made millions buying written off Landrovers from the MOD
He then stripped them and sold the parts...........back to the MOD

Also I beleive a number of 432 owners made a profit when they sold their one previous owner wagons back to the previous owner

Originally Posted by TheBigUn

Originally Posted by meridian

The very fact that we have needed to spend untold millions on kit for CAS when that should have been a core mission requirement is pretty bad in itself.

The lesson wasn't learned after GW1. We had to use "borrowed" US KL113's during it and for years afterwards.

Decent practical CAS/FAC equipment has always been underfunded and consequently fancy IDM etc kit was over funded.

A theme not dissimilar to the actual ac themselves?

Spot on, lots of cash spent on kit that is hardly used yet we've been trying to get a decent Daysack and the cash is not available. Don't even start on DigiCAS , being planned by a load of punters with not a red entry between them.