http://www.defense-aerospace.com/cgi-bin/client/modele.pl?prod=135570&shop=dae&modele=release
Who knows how true this document released to the media in Netherlands is.. but the underlining message is .. defence acquistions like the joke shown years ago is heading sadly in the direction ……that by 2020 all world air forces will be down to 1 jet because thats all they can afford from the taxpayers…funding due to budget cuts of defence at the same time.
By: Toddington Ted - 30th May 2012 at 20:29
Interesting. In the 2 years since I left the RAF, the Service has shrunk, particularly in the training system and I feel this will take some recuperation. Recruiting is ongoing but numbers are scarily small. Some new aircraft are entering or about to enter service but these are few at present. Regarding the concept of military aviation; it will, I believe, remain a crucial part of future warfare and peacekeeping by nation states that can afford it but “wars of choice” will be interesting given recent campaigns. Military operations can be simply described as the product of a nation turning wealth into kinetic energy. Such energy production unfortunately takes much blood and treasure and, to quote the Chinese saying, “if the campaign is long, then the coffers will be empty.” One more quote from those who live on the other side of the North West Frontier, “You westerners have all the clocks, but we have all the time.”
By: Resmoroh - 30th May 2012 at 16:46
Daniel,
I like the theory – but not the logic. In Ancient Rome the Caesars said that to keep the unwashed proletariat quiet all you needed was to give them “Bread & Circuses” on a fairly regular basis. It eventually destroyed the Roman Empire!
Politicians are not logical. If they see the possibility of being voted out of office (with all its perks!) at home then they will invent an overseas war to take the home public’s minds off their problems! Falklands One was just such a scenario. The current situation in Argentina is very similar – thus noises from the Argentine politicos about Falklands Two. They are so childish and predictable. Luckily, I’ll be too old to go and do it for a second time (even if we had suffcient ships/guns/aircraft of the right sort!).
HTH
Resmoroh
Sign In
May 30, 2012 at 3:44 pm