Posted on 06/24/2010 4:01:51 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The Royal Air Force is likely to reduce the number of aircraft types that it operates as a direct result of the UK's ongoing Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), its senior officer says.
"This is a time about real thinking, and of understanding our priorities," says , chief of the air staff. "Resource constraints mean that we simply won't be able to do everything."
Outlining his vision for the service, Dalton says that its combat intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (Combat-ISTAR) mission should remain a "core competency and an invaluable capability for future operations".
However, he says debate is needed in other areas, such as the level to which the UK should task-share with its allies, rather than pursue role specialisation, and on its future balance between manned and unmanned aircraft.
The potential benefits of using more space-based assets, possibly to be launched on demand, should also be considered, he told Shephard's RAF Air Power conference in London on 18 June.
But with the SDSR process to place greater pressure on the UK's defence budget, Dalton says savings must be made. "We need to rationalise the fleets of aeroplanes that we operate. We can't afford to have three or four types that do broadly the same thing."
As an example, "it makes sense to move towards a position where we're operating
(Excerpt) Read more at flightglobal.com ...
Let me guess....get rid of everything with “sea legs”.
The McNamara solution.
Why not just go with The Peacemaker?
Aren’t they down to something like 4 air wings at this point? It sounds like they are down to the point where defending their own country would be more than they could manage.
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