More Defence Cuts

[Angry Turnip]

Without wanting to get too political,I wonder what on Earth the Labour government are up too with these latest round of Defense cut`s
 
RAF Cottesmore is to close,a Sqd of Tornado`s to retire early and the Harrier force retire early and retire the Nimrod MR2 early;just to pay for the purchase of 22 new Chinook Helicopters
 
It would seem that it Labour keeps saying it is promising to meet the demands of the forces in Afghanistan,and then cuts the defence budget and scraps combat aircraft.
 
Approx 10 years ago Labour bought 18 (I think) Chinooks which have still yet to fly-they have been in storage at RAF Shawbury-the US Avionics didn`t like the European weather!
 
In my opinion this is utter madness;the new JSF (useless pile of scrap) to replace the Harrier is not expected into service until 2018,the new Chinooks wouldn`t be ready till 2012.
 
The ground forces in Afghanistan need air support and that is where the Harrier and Tornado excel,why would any government wish to retire them early? It was the same thing with the Jaguar which were chopped early,despite under going a hugely expensive upgrade programme which should have seen the Jaguar operational until 2018.
 
 

[casper]

Totally nuts and as one opposition MP has said Labour are reducing the UKs ability to fight any major future wars just to fund a limited war that could be over in the next few years. Although it does show the state of the economy if they have to go to these extremes just to buy a few helicopters.

[Merlin]

Approx 10 years ago Labour bought 18 (I think) Chinooks which have still yet to fly-they have been in storage at RAF Shawbury-the US Avionics didn`t like the European weather!
 
In my opinion this is utter madness;the new JSF (useless pile of scrap) to replace the Harrier is not expected into service until 2018,the new Chinooks wouldn`t be ready till 2012.

Don't forget the Apaches which the MOD bought from the US. They opted out of buying the training software needed to teach the pilots how to fly them and said they would create their own. Any code monkey (which I am) worth his salt could tell you that was going to end in tears. Lo and behold the software failed to work and cost a fortune.

So instead the Apaches are sitting in warehouse somewhere in England gathering dust because no one can fly them 

What's that expression, "Long term pain for short term gain"

Angry, why don't you like the JSF? Personally I think its a great looking aircraft, far better than the Boeing 'Hippo' it was up against in quals. 

I know that the JSF was to operate from the RN's new carriers, which won't be ready until 2014 at the earliest, assuming Labour doesn't cancel them too  Was it going to be used in the RAF too?

[casper]

Was it going to be used in the RAF too?

Yes they were to equip the two Navy carriers and a couple of RAF squadrons but there's talk that they may go for the C version which has longer range but no V/STOL capability. This will mean that they may order less than the 135 at present.

[Angry Turnip]

The main reason I dislike the JSF (F-35) is that the Harrier which it is due to replace is a much more capable aircraft.
 
The JSF has supersonic ability,but that`s about all that it has over over the Harrier.
The stealth technology in the aircraft is of little use as weapons need to be stored internally,thus restricting fuel capacity and therefore useful range.
The Harrier is a proven workhouse and has had several upgrades that make it a valuable fighting tool.The JSF is just a very expensive pale comparison.
 
In my opinion the US never did like the fact the British designed and built the Harrier,unfortunately it need the US cash to develop the airframe and fit better weapon systems than early UK models.
 
The US have a history of "borrowing" UK technology and then claiming it as their own.I think continuing the development of the Harrier would be a better idea than a new aircraft.