Current RAF aircraft

[Vulcanone]

Ssssssh Don't tell em EGVP

[Pete Da Bear]

The "Daily Fail" had an article just recently that stated RAF front line jet numbers were as low as 119 aircraft of 2 types. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... e-low.html
For comparison, according to Wikipedia, the Indian Air Force has some 700 front line jets comprising 7 types. Following Exercise Indradanush held at Coningsby in 2015 the Indian press alleged that their Sukhoi SU-30 Mk1 aircraft had bested RAF Typhoons throughout the exercise.
RAF/MOD responded with "no comment". As far as I know the Indians have never been asked again.
India meanwhile still receives millions from the UK in overseas aid every year, and besides a substantial air force has an active space program. Successive parliaments, of whatever party, have though cut our military budgets year after year until we are now at the point where all 3 services are at record low numbers in terms of manpower and equipment.
Truly the lunatics have taken over the asylum.

[freebirduk]

To hit some trains in a yard:

circa 1945 - 100 bombers, 500 crew, 1,000 bombs (plus fighter cover)
circa 2019 - 1 drone, 1 chap in a shed

I guess that'll be why.

[Vulcanone]

Pete Da Bear,

Has anyone actually put an F of I in and asked what Foreign aid goes where I wonder....

As for the Indian AF claims my understanding is they claim to have waxed everyone they take part in Exercises with... If you have big balls why not wave them about....

As they are currently on an Ex with the French lets see what happens ;-)

[TonyO]

If everyone thinks the numbers are bad now, wait until after October 31, especially if we leave the EU with no deal.

[Vulcan74]

The airforce back in the 70's & 80's were doing the same job as the advanced aircraft now, back then there were loads of bases to choose from which you hoped you would get posted to. The airforce as changed to such a degree that I would not recognize it now!! but what we have from a spotters point of view there is nothing now to really get worked up about. With no airshows left to go to except Fairford but when the USAF go there in a few years time I don't think you will see RAIT there again just like Mildenhall. I shall have to look at some old dvds of days gone by!!!

[bizfreeq]

India meanwhile still receives millions from the UK in overseas aid every year, and besides a substantial air force has an active space program.

Depends what you mean by 'give to India'. The government of India now gets no foreign aid from us, see this post from ours:
https://dfidnews.blog.gov.uk/2018/12/27 ... overnment/

[Rugbyref]

If everyone thinks the numbers are bad now, wait until after October 31, especially if we leave the EU with no deal.

.....when we will have saved £39bn.

[aenstrop]

To hit some trains in a yard:

circa 1945 - 100 bombers, 500 crew, 1,000 bombs (plus fighter cover)
circa 2019 - 1 drone, 1 chap in a shed

I guess that'll be why.

And if 50% of the 100 failed to get there at least 50% might be able to do some damage to the train set.

If 100% of the 1 failed to get there who knows what Thomas and the Fat Controller could get up to.

Numbers still matter, it’s just a pity the bean counters in government don’t seem to realise that, and that the top brass continue to say yes while on their way to their lovely pension, knighthood and directorship of ABC Military Industries (made up name).

[22A]

Well isn't that a sad state of affairs!! Would love to see the list from July 1979, July 2009, just to see how much it has changed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haEe5KfxvUg
1953 Coronation review. 2. 27" and 3. 22"

[Vulcan74]

Now that's what you call a flypast, better than a hawk, or sentinel or a Kingair!!!

[TonyO]

If everyone thinks the numbers are bad now, wait until after October 31, especially if we leave the EU with no deal.

.....when we will have saved £39bn.

That's not a dividend because we benefit more from being in than out. Current estimates suggest £95 billion of extra borrowing per year will be needed after no-deal Brexit, that's nearly a trillion over a decade. Plus not paying the £39 billion will weaken any trading relationship we try to establish as we become a defaulter.

[RubyRoo]

Tony, please don't try and state facts at these people. They don't listen.

I don't wish for threads to become political, but anyone who seriously expects there to be money available if the United Kingdom leaves with no deal is beyond logic.

[Agent K]

If everyone thinks the numbers are bad now, wait until after October 31, especially if we leave the EU with no deal.

.....when we will have saved £39bn.

Hahaha you crack me up, if only it wasn’t a lie! Can't believe that a not insignificant number of people were stupid enough to believe it.

[Spitfire88]

The airforce back in the 70's & 80's were doing the same job as the advanced aircraft now, back then there were loads of bases to choose from which you hoped you would get posted to. The airforce as changed to such a degree that I would not recognize it now!! but what we have from a spotters point of view there is nothing now to really get worked up about. With no airshows left to go to except Fairford but when the USAF go there in a few years time I don't think you will see RAIT there again just like Mildenhall. I shall have to look at some old dvds of days gone by!!!

RIAT is going nowhere, they have just had their contract extended beyond 2022, I knows lots of people who work for RIAT who have all been told the show in safe for a long time to come.

[PeteHemsley]

The airforce back in the 70's & 80's were doing the same job as the advanced aircraft now, back then there were loads of bases to choose from which you hoped you would get posted to. The airforce as changed to such a degree that I would not recognize it now!! but what we have from a spotters point of view there is nothing now to really get worked up about. With no airshows left to go to except Fairford but when the USAF go there in a few years time I don't think you will see RAIT there again just like Mildenhall. I shall have to look at some old dvds of days gone by!!!

RIAT is going nowhere, they have just had their contract extended beyond 2022, I knows lots of people who work for RIAT who have all been told the show in safe for a long time to come.

As with all contracts, they come with clauses. RIAT will only exist as long as funding is available and foreign air arms carry on attending. If they don't make money or predict a short coming loss, it will cease to exist.

[Johnny]

If it came to it the US could dig a few out the bone yards for UK

[Mark]

Harriers (ex RAF) costing more than we sold them for no doubt....

[Mike]

Harriers that we just didn't need, it was very sad to see them go, but the decision was correct.

[Vulcanone]

Had they survived in service they were going to be retired in 2018 anyway.. Well that's when all the engineering contracts that were in place ran out .

As for dragging them out of DM. I suspect the USMC fleet is still going well thanks to them.