Scandal of 'missing' aircraft for search and rescue

P-3 Orion Interest Group ^ | 4/15/12 | Maddox

[pabianice]

THE UK government faces claims it is failing to meet its international search and rescue obligations after official figures revealed a dramatic fall in the number of missions undertaken by Britain since the scrapping of Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft.

Answers to written questions in the House of Commons reveal a sudden decline in Britain's involvement in international missions following the abandonment of Nimrod, leading the SNP to accuse the UK government of "recklessly" running down Britain's capabilities.

The UK received an average of six requests a year for search and rescue help from neighbouring states before the withdrawal of the sea-patrol aircraft.

But there has been just one appeal for help, from Ireland, since the publication in November 2010 of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), which terminated a £3.6 billion order for new Nimrod MRA4 aircraft.

[pabianice]

UK has scrapped its ASW/SAR Nimrods to save the money to pay welfare to more illegals. I am not making this up. The U.S. is right behind, scrapping the old P-3 for the new P-8. The scandal here is that only a few will be built, the Navy has essentially abandoned ASW, and the P-8 will fly at 20,000 feet --- not a particularly good SAR altitude. I have participated in many P-3 SAR missions. At 20,000 feet you couldn't see a 12-man life raft that was flying a red flag.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Yes, the UK government is sacrificing their military one part at a time to keep up with the demands by the welfare state they intentionally created after WWII.

Saw this thread post yesterday on FR.

48% of Brits want to get out of the UK
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2872527/posts

I say we take off and nuke the entire island from orbit before the welfare state destroys them. It’s the only way to be sure.

[Winniesboy]

UK has scrapped its ASW/SAR Nimrods to save the money to pay welfare to more illegals.

Not so. The cuts to the defence budget (about 8%) were much smaller than cuts to many other government departments as part of the biggest cut in government spending in modern British history. Even Margaret Thatcher at her most radical never attempted anything on the same scale. Some departments have lost as much as 40%. Benefits have been hit particularly hard.

Which is not to say, of course, that the loss of the Nimrods (including the destruction of almost-complete new aircraft) isn't extremely regrettable, as are most of the other defence cuts. But it does help to be aware of the larger picture.

[hamboy]

Correct link is
http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/uk/scandal-of-missing-aircraft-for-search-and-rescue-1-2223994

[Talisker]

Once you go to jets you also can’t slow down. The P-3 could crawl.

[Myrddin]

There's nothing quite like skimming 50 ft above the water in a P3. I would welcome a ride in a P8 with a functioning bathroom :-)

[A.A. Cunningham]

the Navy has essentially abandoned ASW, and the P-8 will fly at 20,000 feet

Not all the time.

Launch altitude: 500 ft.

Can the emoting. You're getting to sound more and more like those idiots at MSNBC.

[pabianice]

LOL! If you haven’t spent the last 30 years reading sci fi, you ain’t gonna be ready for the next 30!

[pabianice]

I comment based upon over 20 years in VP. You?