Defence Review Overview

[Enobob]

Fighterfoto,

You say;

Reds will continue to fly the T1.


Yet the paper firmly states that the Hawk T1 will be retired by 2025.

So unless there is another T2 order ,100 Sqn and the Red Arrows would seem to be under threat.

Unless of course that the announced major investment in synthetic flying training so reduces the Valley T2 fleet that a/c from 4 FTS can re-equip 100 Sqn and the Red Arrows.

[Unknown74]

The Hawk T.2 is the only logical aircraft to fly with the Red Arrows, mind you this is the UK MoD making the decisions.

[welshandy]

I thought the Chinooks were an RAF asset? "7.39. The Army is retiring its oldest CH-47
Chinook helicopters "

The future is safe though "7.16. In support of this we will deliver the
Skynet 6 programme" We all know what happens to Skynet when it becomes self aware

[pug]

The Hawk T.2 is the only logical aircraft to fly with the Red Arrows, mind you this is the UK MoD making the decisions.

It could go one of two ways I think;

1. In a bid to inject confidence in British industry, an order is placed for the T2 variant sufficient to fulfil the need of the Red Arrows. Orders also to replace the 100sqn fleet, thus saving the production line from closure.

2. With an ever dwindling number of front line fast jets, and the inevitable scale back in demand for training, the justification of a stand-alone squadron with the sole purpose of being an aerobatic team is diminished. The Red Arrows are replaced with a multi role display team as happened prior to the Red Arrows.

How long will Waddington continue to be viable as an airfield? Not sure what the plan is with UAV operations in future and whether they will likely be based an operated on U.K. soil?

[Alf]

The Hawk T.2 is the only logical aircraft to fly with the Red Arrows, mind you this is the UK MoD making the decisions.

Maybe they will go with the same idea the RCAF have with the Snowbirds. They retired the Tutor from mainline service , but also kept enough still flying to keep the team viable for many years. Also, 100sq could go private to Draken or similar.

[Pirty20]

Wonder if we will get Ospreys in a medium lift capacity. Strap a few torpedoes on it somewhere.

Edit: developing one
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-to-d ... /#comments

[Unknown74]

If the Reds trade in Jets for Tutors they will be similar to the Blades, mind you Extra 300s would be fun in Red Arrows colours. Still think Hawk T2s would be the prefered option.

[Philly1971]

If the Reds trade in Jets for Tutors they will be similar to the Blades, mind you Extra 300s would be fun in Red Arrows colours. Still think Hawk T2s would be the prefered option.

Actually my preferred option would be they get those tranch 1 Typhoons. Can you imagine the noise, now I would pay to watch/listen to that!

[Unknown74]

Yes but would we be able to afford it?

[Vulcan74]

It would be nice if the Reds could switch to the T2, I don't think I would to want see them converting to Tutors!!

[Phoon]

The Hawk T.2 is the only logical aircraft to fly with the Red Arrows, mind you this is the UK MoD making the decisions.

It could go one of two ways I think;

1. In a bid to inject confidence in British industry, an order is placed for the T2 variant sufficient to fulfil the need of the Red Arrows. Orders also to replace the 100sqn fleet, thus saving the production line from closure.

2. With an ever dwindling number of front line fast jets, and the inevitable scale back in demand for training, the justification of a stand-alone squadron with the sole purpose of being an aerobatic team is diminished. The Red Arrows are replaced with a multi role display team as happened prior to the Red Arrows.

How long will Waddington continue to be viable as an airfield? Not sure what the plan is with UAV operations in future and whether they will likely be based an operated on U.K. soil?

Indeed - which makes the millions recently spent on upgrading the taxiways, runway and various buildings an absolute waste of money, yet another long line of such cases, where nobody ever seems accountable for such waste.

[Alf]

It would be nice if the Reds could switch to the T2, I don't think I would to want see them converting to Tutors!!

Grob Tutors or Cannadair Tutors?

[Alf]

The Hawk T.2 is the only logical aircraft to fly with the Red Arrows, mind you this is the UK MoD making the decisions.

It could go one of two ways I think;

1. In a bid to inject confidence in British industry, an order is placed for the T2 variant sufficient to fulfil the need of the Red Arrows. Orders also to replace the 100sqn fleet, thus saving the production line from closure.

2. With an ever dwindling number of front line fast jets, and the inevitable scale back in demand for training, the justification of a stand-alone squadron with the sole purpose of being an aerobatic team is diminished. The Red Arrows are replaced with a multi role display team as happened prior to the Red Arrows.

How long will Waddington continue to be viable as an airfield? Not sure what the plan is with UAV operations in future and whether they will likely be based an operated on U.K. soil?

Indeed - which makes the millions recently spent on upgrading the taxiways, runway and various buildings an absolute waste of money, yet another long line of such cases, where nobody ever seems accountable for such waste.

Red Arrows could merge with the Valley T2s and just share the aircraft. Thats what the Spanish team do at Murcia with the Cash 101s, rather than have a dedicated separate squadron.

[Fighterfoto]

The Reds are keeping Hawk T1s. They are not getting Hawk T2s. The Command Paper does not give a date for T1 retirement.

And take U.K. Def Journal copy with a handful of salt, they merely repackage other folks’s output and often rebroadcast incorrect material.

[pug]

The Reds are keeping Hawk T1s. They are not getting Hawk T2s. The Command Paper does not give a date for T1 retirement.

And take U.K. Def Journal copy with a handful of salt, they merely repackage other folks’s output and often rebroadcast incorrect material.

Which therefore makes the Reds long term future doubtful.

[thevulcan]

Plenty of spares available for the T1s though with the Navy and 100 squadron machines being retired.

[TonyO]

The Reds are keeping Hawk T1s. They are not getting Hawk T2s. The Command Paper does not give a date for T1 retirement.

And take U.K. Def Journal copy with a handful of salt, they merely repackage other folks’s output and often rebroadcast incorrect material.

What he said...

[pg1610]

Mid 2020s new medium lift helicopter to replace 4 types , assume this is Puma, Merlin, Wildcat and Bell 212 ?

Maybe Puma, Gazelle, Bell 212 , Bell 412.. think Merlin and Wildcat have many more years of service ahead.

Whilst I accept gazzelle could be one,I doubt it as it's only an observation platform,bell 212/412 I would class as a single type

Wildcat would be strange as not that old, maybe it would replace gazelle in the observation role

Sure it will all come out officially in due course

[the concerned]

Didn't the UK recently sign up to a European medium lift helicopter to replace both merlin and nh90. Also I think the RAF will be looking to the new trainer being developed in Anglia the one with changeable wings.

[Richard E]

The Hawk T.2 is the only logical aircraft to fly with the Red Arrows, mind you this is the UK MoD making the decisions.

I think I've seen a previous version of this debate which explains that the T Mk.2 would not be suitable mount for The Red Arrows displays becase it does not have the same speed of throttle response as the T Mk.1.

Depending on my memory though so happy to be proven wrong.