Royal Air Force

Something I forgot to add, Leuchars, Leeming , Kinloss and Valley have MRTs(Mountain Rescue Teams), There were teams at Stafford and St Athan as well. What happens when say Leuchars and Kinloss close? There were major problems with the Valley team when Valley went over to contractorised groundcrew. In fact the Valley contractorisation was put on hold for a while whilst it was sorted out.

Looks like goodbye Lossiemouth and Marham then?

After the speculation on the depth of the defence cuts in Saturday's Daily Telegraph, just how bad a doomsday scenario can we make up. The DT suggest that fleets like the GR4, MRA4, Puma, C-130J might all go, with the buy of typhoon cut back so much to leave only one base (presumably Coningsby). This might mean closure of the following main operating bases:

Kinloss (I think Lossie might stay for JSF)
Leuchars
Leeming
Linton-on-Ouse (all stages of flying training to valley)
Marham
Benson (or Odiham)

We already know that the following are due to close:

Cottesmore
Lyneham
Perhaps Wittering (if JSF goes to Lossie?)

Then there are the minor units that must be for the chop (if we are serious about saving money):

Scampton
Kirton-in-Lindsey
Barkston Heath
Syerston
Church Fenton
Woodvale
Other Air Cadet locations (Kenley, Kirknewton etc)

Anyone got any more likey candidates? Looks like the ARG will need to offer its services to the MOD to compile photographic records of all these places before they bite the dust.

I wouldn't like to make a bet on any of these right now - but I will bet there will be more in the way of unpleasant surprises. Fortunately there is widespread political support for Trident even if nobody wants to pay for it... I can live with the closure of "iconic" bases if the real estate remains in military hands but would be somewhat disturbed if the bulk of the sites earmarked for closure are to be sold off.

On reading this thread I'm reminded of Arthur Harris' summing up chapter in his book Bomber Offensive where he takes the view that the independent Royal Air Force has probably had it's day and a unified defence force with shared resources may be a more efficient solution.

With the cost to any ambitious nation of maintaining a large standing force and associated conventional assets plus the (hopefully in this context) stable institutions of NATO and the European Union renders direct conventional military threats to our nation remote for the forseeable future. However I can't see any end to the threat of global insurgencies and terrorism the countering of which seems to be very much a joint service and international affair... with as always the PBI taking the pain.

Who knows, maybe our money could be better spent right now in overseas aid, diplomacy and strengthening economic ties? Well educated and prosperous nations tend to be more stable.

Clearly we will always need a strong air capability but at what price? - I suspect we'll find out soon after the defence review. Hopefully all those involved will bear in mind though that the number one priority of our government is the security of the nation.

AiXAdmin;51277 wrote:

Hopefully all those involved will bear in mind though that the number one priority of our government is the security of the nation.

Since the late eighties, I don't believe that has been so, even more evident since 1997!!!!!!

Don't think Marham will close, the Royals will have to fly to Norwich instead !

We all know what happened next!

Yes, Hiroshima.... and the concept of mutual destruction. But your point about the ten year rule is well made.

Being cynical I think someone very high up has started all this as a bit of spin. Ill make a few suggestions. Could Valley handle all flying training? No it couldnt, this was looked at under the 94 defence costs study and again it was said Valley just couldnt cope. Leuchars for closure? I very much doubt it, could Coningsby really do QRA for the whole of UK? And another of Leuchars roles is the airhead for 45 Commando at Arbroath. If I was a member of 45 Cdo Id be annoyed at having to travel to Brize by road when theres a suitable airfield 30 minutes down the road. And no Nimrod??? Come on were an island for heavens sake, and dont forget we have responsibilities under international law for the rescue of people at sea. If the Puma is got rid of (despite all the hype aboput a lack of helicopters) why would Benson close? Unless the Merlins are going to Odiham. And finally , there is a constant lack of transport aircraft so why ditch the C130? Id far sooner have that than the airbus thing.

Well today on the Jeremy Vine programme on Radio Two the discussion was to get rid of the RAF altogether.