My solution to the problem would be with draw all LHDs and replace them with 3 CVF fitted for CATBAR with F-35C as Shornets.

This would be better as they may not need CVNs what so ever

Nadolig Llawen for Sunny Wales

Sorry if these aren’t realistic prices but buying unwanted second hand kit is the best thing to do!

100 Million for 40 Harrier (some of which are stored Shars)

200 Million for 4 Type 42 Destroyers

500 Million for Ark Royal, Invincible and the Bay that is being sold.

150 Million for 10 used SH-60

100 Million for used S-70

300 Million for used ECR and IDS tornados from Germany

100 Million dedicated to spares from whole of military.

50 Million for 40 Challenger 2 MBT from ones mothballed

40 Million for 40 Alvis Stormer

200 Million spent on buying Super Tucarnos

100 million spent on training program for forces which involes inviting friendly nations to assist with training

One word for u lads:
STOVL

I really do agree with swerve that we have no choice but to save money!

We can’t go round making these frigging ‘lets change to this’ after we have spent millions on the existing work.

We have no choice but to keep with what we have for the next few years until CVF comes in and even then I think that my age group in their mid/late teens age going to be paying for the resesion up until we are in are mid thirties. We are in a resesion and I think that the MOD should concentrate on keeping what they have no going and asking for more!!!

I would get rid of argus and two bays and rerole Ocean into a more multirole ship that acts as the aviation training ship as well.

How out the box does this sound….

QE is built as is for STVOL
Approx 45 F35Bs purchased, these split as you like roughly 2 sqns of 12-15 or 3 short sqns of 10, with the remainder going to a sqn of say 8-10 that also covers Op-Eval and OCU leaving a few spare.
A p’ing contest can be had as to which shade of blue the flight suits are for each squadron.

MaSC Merlins (palettised radar system) provide the airborne coverage.

PoW is built with the now mature EMALS, RN pilots go catobar training. MOD purchases a guess of 60-70 much cheaper E/F/G Hornets or Rafales. Giving 4 sqns of 12 plus training sqn and a few spare.

Hawkeye is purchased as now able to operate using emals, Merlins with ramps put back on are re-roled as necessary.

QE has early/first refit to get EMALS as well, and all F35bs now join the RAF. Leaving the FAA with 4 sqns of Shornets/Rafales rotating between the 2 carriers

Excercises and Surge/War time scenario, still has F35b able to “jump” off with internal loading without a ski jump. SHornet/Rafales Buddy re-fuelling if no ski jump means full weapons and reduced fuel.

Yes money is tight but a well thought out (better thought out than mine) spending scenario might just get everyone something close to what they want.

Agree with you except colour text:
The F-35 are halved and some are sold to friendly air forces/navy’s
The SHornets or Rafales are deployed 2 sqns per carrier with a squadron of growlers purchased with 4 a/c deployed to each carrier leaving 4 for training back seaters.
There is a serge role of the OEU/OCU sqn like 899. Purchase the SHornets that are plumbed for CFTs etc

Can I just ask, apart from the awful Tornado ADV (and unsure if that was 100% in house), which fighter have BAe designed and produced?

The Sea Harrier was a BAe project was it not and from what i’ve heard the Harrier II+ was made to work by BAe america!

anyone’s comming to 2010 riat show? or i’l be the onlt one? 😉

Im going but am with cadets which last year was a laugh