Strategic Defence Review - 2025

[Malcy]

My apologies …with all that latin - I came to the wrong conclusion.

No worries, I wish i was an ex Jaguar pilot

Snap - I went to Biggin Hill for the aircrew selection and failed due to eyesight …was a bummer at the time but decades on I have no complaints having had a go on the Jag SIM at Lossie as a schoolboy. Landing was NOT easy.

[Blackcat1]

No worries, I wish i was an ex Jaguar pilot

Snap - I went to Biggin Hill for the aircrew selection and failed due to eyesight …was a bummer at the time but decades on I have no complaints having had a go on the Jag SIM at Lossie as a schoolboy. Landing was NOT easy.

Sadly flight sim was as close as I got to flying a Jaguar

[ranger703]

All well and good in principle but just where exactly is the manpower coming from? Latest figures as of January 25, actually less now, are Army: 73,847, RAF:30'437, RN/RM: 32'150, an approx. total of less than 150'000 fully trained personnel! In 1990 for comparison the UK military had approx 310'000 trained personnel across all 3 services! I find it difficult to figure out, especially in the current climate, where the government are going to get the required personnel strength from to achieve their ambition. The latest AFPRB authorised retainer bonuses to Chefs in particular and a continuation of the bounty paid to RAF engineers across all the aviation trades. Equipment is all well and good but if you don't have pilots to fly, sailors to sail and soldiers to yomp then your kit is just going to sit idle or in a state of disrepair!

[Yunglee]

I'm surprised there's not been any conversation on recommendation 48 of the SDR which to me reads that the RAF/ government should establish a commercial alternative to Brize, so presumably a formalised alternative at an existing UK airport such as Manchester, Stansted, Gatwick? And what about the hopefully soon to be re-opened Doncaster airport?

48. The RAF must drive greater productivity to enhance its resilience:

RAF Brize Norton should be a high priority for investment and improvement
in partnership with private finance, as part of a new partnership with industry
(Chapters 4.2 and 7.11). Given it is not affordable to establish a military
alternative to Brize Norton should it be unavailable for operations, alternative
commercial facilities must be planned and, if necessary, legislated for under the
new Defence Readiness Bill (Chapter 6).

And just for context the Secretary of State in his Commons statement confirmed that all the 62 recommendations were accepted and would be implemented.

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/ ... -statement
"...the government endorses the SDR’s vision, accepts its 62 recommendations, which will be implemented."

[Col Nago]

I'm surprised there's not been any conversation on recommendation 48 of the SDR which to me reads that the RAF/ government should establish a commercial alternative to Brize, so presumably a formalised alternative at an existing UK airport such as Manchester, Stansted, Gatwick? And what about the hopefully soon to be re-opened Doncaster airport?

48. The RAF must drive greater productivity to enhance its resilience:

RAF Brize Norton should be a high priority for investment and improvement
in partnership with private finance, as part of a new partnership with industry
(Chapters 4.2 and 7.11). Given it is not affordable to establish a military
alternative to Brize Norton should it be unavailable for operations, alternative
commercial facilities must be planned and, if necessary, legislated for under the
new Defence Readiness Bill (Chapter 6).

And just for context the Secretary of State in his Commons statement confirmed that all the 62 recommendations were accepted and would be implemented.

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/ ... -statement
"...the government endorses the SDR’s vision, accepts its 62 recommendations, which will be implemented."

Prestwick would be my bet. It’s already acting as a commercial NATO base.

[NorvilleRogers]

I'm surprised there's not been any conversation on recommendation 48 of the SDR which to me reads that the RAF/ government should establish a commercial alternative to Brize, so presumably a formalised alternative at an existing UK airport such as Manchester, Stansted, Gatwick? And what about the hopefully soon to be re-opened Doncaster airport?

48. The RAF must drive greater productivity to enhance its resilience:

RAF Brize Norton should be a high priority for investment and improvement
in partnership with private finance, as part of a new partnership with industry
(Chapters 4.2 and 7.11). Given it is not affordable to establish a military
alternative to Brize Norton should it be unavailable for operations, alternative
commercial facilities must be planned and, if necessary, legislated for under the
new Defence Readiness Bill (Chapter 6).

And just for context the Secretary of State in his Commons statement confirmed that all the 62 recommendations were accepted and would be implemented.

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/ ... -statement
"...the government endorses the SDR’s vision, accepts its 62 recommendations, which will be implemented."

Prestwick would be my bet. It’s already acting as a commercial NATO base.

Or maybe Birmingham, closer to Brize and all the ground personnnel there could get to Birmingham quickly if required.

[Sparts99]

I thought Birmingham was used when Brize is unavailable for any reason anyway.

[Snoop 95]

I would have thought RAF Fairford would be a prime choice, given that it is already a military airfield, not too far from Brize and much less busy than either Prestwick or Birmingham airports

[Supra]

Looking at the Statement & specifically at the words ' alternative commercial facilities' I'm inclined to think a Civil Airport is envisioned mainly because it appears the last person leaving a military airfield 'turns out the lights'
until tomorrows published opening time. Fire cover for 24/7 QRA Op's at Coningsby & Lossiemouth is insufficient for MEDA purposes. Not good for unplanned alternatives to Brize, which was/is still the only 24 hr RAF Station?..Also the subject base in question and Tanker base for QRA AAR.
For reference, please see the 2019 Topic viewtopic.php?f=287&t=177082
What, if anything has improved??

On current analysis it would seem Prestwick for Opening-hours, Fire-cover, Fuel /Ground Handling & alternative geographic weather conditions (compared to Brize) is the #1 choice imo?

PS:- Reference Fairford as alternative. Isn't it the case that just after Brize goes quiet each day the skies around Fairford are full of transiting drones in the near future?

[Yunglee]

I've got an obvious bias living next to Doncaster airport but given the governments backing for re-opening (local and national) and the mention of doncaster airport in todays transport annoucement (which sounded like freeing up funds for re-opeing by giving extra funding for local transport schemes) - surely a soon to be open airport with growth potential in terms of space and which was previously a 24 hour airport is an obvious option

[Agent K]

I thought Birmingham was used when Brize is unavailable for any reason anyway.

There's a significant difference to being used as a line station and being used for a few landings and departures, to one being able to sustain an operation with facilities and equipment for personnel to plan and manage that operation.

[warthog81]

Why did they not keep Lyneham open? Would it not have been suitable?

[Alf]

Why did they not keep Lyneham open? Would it not have been suitable?

Not sure the runways were long enough for an A330.

[Doughnut]

Lyneham closed because the Hercules fleet had been reduced in size with the retirement of the C1/C3 replaced by a smaller number of C4/C5.
Also more maintenance was being carried at Marshall's Cambridge site.
It was obviously a considered cost saving to co-locate the Hercules fleet at Brize with their impeding out of service date already pencilled in.

[Doughnut]

I've got an obvious bias living next to Doncaster airport but given the governments backing for re-opening (local and national) and the mention of doncaster airport in todays transport annoucement (which sounded like freeing up funds for re-opeing by giving extra funding for local transport schemes) - surely a soon to be open airport with growth potential in terms of space and which was previously a 24 hour airport is an obvious option

Obviously the planned reopening of Doncaster Airport gives the RAF another option when it comes to training flights and weather diversions.
But what still remains of the old RAF Finingley infrastructure which could be used to support short term deployed tanker / transport operations ?

[Yunglee]

Doncaster would need new infrastructure for sure but the old master plan had large cargo hard standing areas and there’s certainly space for those areas around the airport

[Harkins]

I guess it's related to the SDSR, but I was thinking about these %GDP targets for defence spending that are often talked about. I think Hegseth has today said that the 5%GDP level 'will happen'.

But rather than a %GDP target, which is often fudged with the inclusion of defence related stuff that is perhaps tenuous, would it not be better to set specific targets? Say for example, X number soldiers per capita, or X number of aircraft per capita? These could be tailored for member nations, such as Czech Rep not having naval targets.

Just seems to make more sense that way. If Russia invaded Europe, what we pay out in pensions isn't going to hold them back long.

[the concerned]

Does former Cottesmore now kendrew barracks still have it's runway intact.if not why not invest in Manston as it is already Being looked at for reopening.

[C24]

Cottesmore’s runway had heavies making night landings last year or perhaps late 2023.

Wittering was used more recently. This could be used without too much upgrade maybe. The road access via A1 would be a great benefit in emergency. Peterborough has the mainline rail connection.

So Wittering upgraded and Cottesmore as satellite with upgrade from A1 exit (Stretton) for road access between the two would be a solution.

If it did transpire, I could install a window in the roof for better observation

[the concerned]

The other benefit of Cottesmore and, or wittering is if work needs doing to any of the front line bases in the area you have a dispersion base to use.