I think the first is a fair point and, as you say, not in the MoD's power to control.

The second point, some are some aren't. Deployments to the FI, shader etc are in the latter, deployments more of an exercise nature there will be more authority on what to do or not.

What radical change?

They’ve blown there budget Not really, it’s just underfunded. A lot of the projects were never actually funded in the first place so to add it all together and say there is a black hole in the budget is bonkers…they were never included in the budget. Much of it was/is aspirational. IMO it shows fou...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... e-12785677

Slightly dramatic language, but gives some idea of what is going on.

That makes no sense. If you don't know, just say so. Oh lighten up..... The point being, the RAF has many thousands of personnel, of course they could fly and mainly 5 aircraft, they obviously wouldn't because probably only 3 would be operational at any one time, with a back up and one in the maint...

That makes no sense. If you don't know, just say so. Oh lighten up..... The point being, the RAF has many thousands of personnel, of course they could fly and mainly 5 aircraft, they obviously wouldn't because probably only 3 would be operational at any one time, with a back up and one in the maint...

That makes no sense. If you don't know, just say so.

I'm not sure what the serviceability of them are yet, however if we want 5 then we need enough people to support 5.

There's more to it than just flight crew numbers, without everyone else they're just paper weights.

Equipment used usefully is the best way, little point in clocking up wear and tear but at no useful training value. Of course there's a balance between all or nothing training.

I wasn't blaming the Americans, just that keeping up with them isn't cheap. Understood, but first tier equipment is absolutely what the RAF should have.... A core aircraft fleet of Poseidon, E7 and Rivet Joint is expensive, but they are at the core of the RAF and each fleet should be available in t...

I wasn't blaming the Americans, just that keeping up with them isn't cheap.

Where will NATO and the US by sourcing their bbj's? American jets and I assume the nato ones will come from there too will come from new builds that the US military are asking Boeing to make for them. It will take about 4 years to build these new airframes hence why the ISD are a number of years aw...

Brunei and cyprus have, for years, had different fleets to the ones in the uk. Not that much unusual in this decision which has nothing to do with chinooks. The central argument of NMH was moving away from small and diverse fleets. Whatever logic might be served by having small fleets of a widely u...

Brunei and cyprus have, for years, had different fleets to the ones in the uk. Not that much unusual in this decision which has nothing to do with chinooks.

Its something that's been on my mind for a while, we have all called for more equipment/funding for the armed forces but are we saying (for example) if due to world events we were order another 8 type 26's we wouldn't have the manpower to use them? Same for most increases in equipment, at the momen...

When a unit (of whatever service) deploys it needs a wide group of trades/ranks to make it work. When you have shortages in quite a few areas but not all then that's when you have some groups left kicking their heels whilst others remain short. In the case you've described, the navy may not have ev...

When a unit (of whatever service) deploys it needs a wide group of trades/ranks to make it work. When you have shortages in quite a few areas but not all then that's when you have some groups left kicking their heels whilst others remain short. In the case you've described, the navy may not have eve...

https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-failing-to-get-enough-recruits-into-basic-training/ It states the navy shrank by 1640 people from 2022 to 2023. 'There is no equipment programme, no deployment or effect that can be delivered by the navy without trained and experienced people' You could read ac...

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistic ... -july-2023

Down 8k people from july 22 to july 23.
Recruits down 17%.
People leaving up 6%

This continues for another 2 years (like it has) we're in severe difficulty.

I don't understand, what has this got to do with an election?

I think it's just wishful thinking rather than anything realistic. It does come up a lot though.

The money would be far better spent on the ones we've got and the people who we need to for the aircraft to operate.

Jdam wrote: ↑23 Sep 2023, 10:04 Not just the subs.



Storm Shadow is just destroying them.

How we don't have a dozen countries lining up to buy these things is just beyond me.

Is there any for sale?

Its nothing much to do with hot water but more to do with options for allowances for housing.