Scottish Airforce

[Bushpilot]

Has it occurred to anyone that the markings for a Scottish airforce, should it happen, could look remarkably similar to those of facist Spain . Also what would happen to the RAF roundel and Red arrows if the blue was removed?

[Pune]

No idea about the roundel but I'm sure the arrows would stay 'as is'

[EGDR]

Never mind the markings .What about the men , if they are born in Scotland would they now be foreigners and no longer eligible for the RAF, Army or Navy? So do we loose them if the vote is for independence?
mike.p

From what I've read, in the event of a yes vote, Scottish service personnel will be asked and can choose which country they would like to serve.

[thorny1a]

If they negotiate to have a proportion of all equipment then the Jocks will end up with a couple of Red Arrows anyway

I'm clueless on the roundel question, although if there is a yes vote, I think that Defence will probably one of the most complex issues to unravel... radars, bases, aircraft, fuel, weapons, equipment & of course personnel.... wow whats a can of worms!

Uncle Putin could also have a lot of fun taking advantage of the undoubted confusion thrown up by a yes... Bears flying along near our airspace & frigates hugging territorial waters. Might sound far fetched, but from a Russian pov, why not make the most of it?

[Gary]

thorny1a

Unless plans have changed since I read the SNPs defence policy they don't want any Hawks, should they vote for independence

Air forces

Key elements of air forces in place at independence, equipped initially from a negotiated share of current UK assets, will secure core tasks, principally the ability to police Scotland's airspace, within NATO.

an Air Force HQ function (with staff embedded within NATO structures)
Scotland will remain part of NATO's integrated Air Command and Control (AC2) system, initially through agreement with allies to maintain the current arrangements while Scotland establishes and develops our own AC2 personnel and facility within Scotland within five years of independence
a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) squadron incorporating a minimum of 12 Typhoon jets based at Lossiemouth
a tactical air transport squadron, including around six Hercules C130J aircraft, and a helicopter squadron
flight training through joint arrangements with allies
In total this would require around 2,000 regular personnel and around 300 reserve personnel.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/9348/10

[ArabJazzie]

If they negotiate to have a proportion of all equipment then the Jocks will end up with a couple of Red Arrows anyway

I'm clueless on the roundel question, although if there is a yes vote, I think that Defence will probably one of the most complex issues to unravel... radars, bases, aircraft, fuel, weapons, equipment & of course personnel.... wow whats a can of worms!

Uncle Putin could also have a lot of fun taking advantage of the undoubted confusion thrown up by a yes... Bears flying along near our airspace & frigates hugging territorial waters. Might sound far fetched, but from a Russian pov, why not make the most of it?

Not heard the rumours then of Russian aircraft making it within miles of the UK before turning back without detection!

Also, who is looking after our coast just now? The Wombles of Westminster think a cut down fleet of AWACS and a handful of Merlins are looking after that!!!
Arabest,
Geoff.

[Gloria Finis]

Sidewinder equipped Grobs (UAS to the rescue, therefore Leuchars back as the air-defence base) and Smoke bomb equipped Cessnas (hired from civil flying schools) ? ? ?

[ultraburner]

Anyone seen this... http://ws-clave.deviantart.com/art/Fant ... -441209050

[Morseman]

Is that Scotland's first uav ?

[22A]

Also what would happen to the RAF roundel and Red arrows if the blue was removed?

Remove the blue from the traditional roundal and we'll have to put a red & white disc on the Red Arrows' red & white painted aircraft. Not too daft. I once saw a "Hoplite" that was painted red. The Soviet star on the side was a different shade of red.

[Bushpilot]

Stand down, panic over.

[nickowen]

No it isn't. The SNP highlighted the the most dangerous capability gap in the defence of the UK and pledged to restore a LRMP capability. It is now up to all the nations of the UK to bring pressure to bear upon London to do that.

[POL]

Yeah, lots of danger from all those Islamic State nuclear subs, isn't there...

[Vulcanone]

Frankly I would rather have some MPAs keeping an eye on what is wondering around the Irish sea and off the rest of the North Atlantic given that some people seem keen to show a certain country out east is still out there..

Now the majority of the Scottish people have said what they think.....

Look back at what the Scottish Defence plans consisted of and tell me what else was missing....

Tim