Good point on the training. At least the A400M will be cleared for tanking and possibly some RAF pilots will serve as exchange pilots with air forces equipped with the tanker versions.

Also, if need be, perhaps the RAF could borrow tanker kits from friendly nations? Not ideal, but a possibility.

The Merlin HC.3 was recently trialled as refueling from Italian KC-130J. Seems strange with many other countries getting into air refuelable helos, what are the plans of the RAF?

Currently the RAF has:
4 Tristar KC.1 x 96270 = 385,080 kg
2 Tristar K.1 x 128000 = 256,000
Supposedly tasking is 33% tanking and 66% transport

VC-10
10 C.1K x 70300 kg = 703,000 kg
2 K.3 x 80000 kg = 160,000 kg
4 K.4 x 70300 kg = 281,200 kg

Of the 16, 10 are operational at any one time. Say:
6 C.1K x 70300 kg = 421,800 kg
1 K.3 x 80000 kg = 80,000 kg
3 K.4 x 70300 kg = 210,900 kg

With the current 22 tankers they can carry 1,785,280 kg (in theory) or more realistically 1,353,700 kg

With the 9 full time A330 MRTT x 111,280 = 1,001,520
With all 14 tankers = 1,557,920 kg

With the increased availability and capability the 14 A330 MRTT will provide more capability than 22 older types.

Also more troops and cargo with the A330.

There are currently no plans to fit the RAF A400M as tankers, but as A400M can be fitted as a tanker inside two hours this isn’t a huge problem.

Not sure on F-15A numbers, but these are only used by ANG from 2001. They can all use AMRAAM. Fairly sure these are due to go from ~2013 (I think the plan is exchange with active duty F-16C/D when these are replaced in active units with F-35A).

There are around 370 F-15C/D. All are fitted with HMD, AIM-9X by 2007 (They’ve had AMRAAM since 1991). They plan to fit 179 active and 48+ ANG with APG-63(v)2 AESA and retain till 2-25 (USAF) and 2040 (ANG).

They have at least 224 F-15E and plan to fit these with PG-63(v)4 AESA.

F-16A were retired from active forces in 1990, and the ANG by 2007. There are none remaining front-line US service.

They have approximately:
197 Block 25 (retiring from 2007 on)
350 Block 30 (Possibly retiring from 2014)
51 Block 32
From around 2000 these versions are only flown by ANG and Reserves.

Around 222 Block 40, 174 Block 42, 198 Block 50 and 52 Block 52 remaining. The upgrades add HMD, new targeting pods, Link 16, new weapons, etc. Block 50 went through the upgrade 2002-2006 with Block 40 to complete by 2010.

If teh F-35 is delayed, they could order more F-15E and F-16C (still be production by the time the F-35 is due to enter service).

Despite teh recent F-15 grounding, they aren’t in too bad a shape.

As per: http://www.raf.mod.uk/downloads/wallpapers/tornadof3/tornadof3_04_0800.jpg

IIRC…

….GR force could get away from the ‘fleet within a fleet’ problems that were affecting the force by the end of the 1990s – a plan that has worked out splendi….. oh, hang on…

I thought this had worked out okay. What went wrong with the common standard?

More like fan-art 😉
http://www.turbosquid.com/FullPreview/Index.cfm/ID/295465

APG-71 had poor serviceability in the last few years of F-14D service due to lack of spares. It also lacks a SAR mode to target JDAM guided bombs and the like.

F-111C already has pretty good EW – ALR-62 RWR, ALE-47 decoys, EL-8222 jammer pods.

If the F-111C was to remain in service till 2020 they would have been fitted with improved RWR, SATCOM, Link 16, ASRAAM, JDAM series bombs and JASSM.