Given the previous thread on the UK Defence Review has become a debate on Global Warming I thought I would start a new one.
I believe a Reality Bomb has finally gone off in the UK. Given that there is a £37Bn hole in the existing equipment programme and that the budget is going to shrink year on year until at least 2020, What programmes are at risk if new capabilities are found to be need?
Will the whole Tornado force be scrapped early to free up funds for the F-35?
Will the number of Typhoons be cut further with the F1s being scraped and T3b cancelled?
Will the navy have to settke for no C1 and a limited number of C2 “Fitted for” C1 replacements?
Will the Apache upgrade survive?
Will the Army get any new AFVs or just more Mine Pretected Vehicles?
What I see coming is that the UK Armed forces will be only able to mount a Afghanistan type operation in future by commmiting its total resorces and then taking 5+ years to recover post Op before undertaking another. we will have little or no ability to operate independantly in any except the smallest of operations. Our Armed Forces could end up the same size as the Netherlands but with 3-4 Boomers.
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February 4, 2010 at 5:32 pm