Harrier, Nimrod, Sentinelm F-35B fall civtim in latest round of cuts to RAF.

Have not seen much mention of this on this side of the pond but the Brits have dropped the hammer on defence funding with the RAF suffering the most. By the Spring of 2011 they will loose nearly 50% of their fast jet fleet! Most interestingly they loose their beloved Harriers and switch from the F-35B to a almost halved order of the F-35C. RAF will also recive a unsaid number of ex-USAF RC-135 Rivet Joints.



S.D.S.R 2010 by the numbers


Aircraft Changes and Withdrawals

A330 KC.1

• All 14 aircraft to be configured to air 2 air refuelling and not the original 9, contract to be re-negotiated in order to get the best value for money.
• Aircraft integration to be brought forward so that it can take over from Tri-Start and VC-10 by 2015.

A400M

• An order for all 22 A400M Grizzly's are to be completed and will not be reduced further.
• All 22 should now been delivered by 2020 to RAF Brize Norton. The first A400M's will arrive in 2012 for work up and release to service.

F-35 Lighting II

• Order for 138 SVTOL F-35 Lighting II variant cancelled
• Order for CTOL F-35 Lighting II variant ordered as a and number reduced

Chinook

• Original number planed in December 09 of 22 new aircraft now reduced to 12.

Nimrod MRA.4

• With immediate affect the contract to buy 9 Nimrod MRA.4 long range maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft is terminated.

Harrier

• Harrier fleet withdrawn - Harrier to cease all flying operations by the 01/04/11.
• 1(F) Squadron - To disband by 01/04/11.
• 4(R)Sqaudron - RAF Wittering aircraft moved to RAF Cottesmore and disband by 01/04/10.
• 41(R)Sqaudron to disband Harrier Flt 29/10/10 TBC.
• 800 Naval Air Squadron - To disband by01/04/11.
• Pilots - Transferred to US Navy Pilot School to commence carrier training.

Hercules

• All RAF Hercules C.4 and C.5 to be withdrawn from use ten years earlier O.S.D 2022.

RC-135W Rivet Joint

• Confirmation that RAF crews are being trained on the type.
• First aircraft should arrive at RAF Waddington in early 2015.

Puma HC.2

• Upgrade to continue and confirmation that there will be a total of 28 Puma HC.2's and all upgrades are to be completed by 2014. The upgrade will give 10 to 12 years service O.S.D 2024/2025

Sentinel R.1

• To be withdrawn as soon as, it is no longer required in Afghanistan or by 2015 which ever is soonest.

Tornado GR.4

• Tornado Squadrons - 2 x Squadron to be disbanded
• Tornado Force - To be made up of six squadron's.
• Tornado Bases - Fleet to be centralized .
• Tornado Fleet - To be reduced from its current size of 133 airframes is to be reduced to around 80 aircraft.

Tri-Star/VC-10

• Tri-Star to start being withdrawn from use by 2013 and completely withdrawn by 2015.
• VC-10 to provide air 2 air refuelling only with immediate affect and completely withdrawn by 2015.

Typhoon

• Royal Air Force to receive a total fleet size of 160 aircraft and final figure for Royal Air Force.

Flying Stations Changes


RAF Cottesmore

• Airfield to close 31/03/11 and be placed into care and maintenance by 01/11/11

RAF Kinloss

• To close and be placed into care and maintenance by 31/03/11

just saw a piece in the WSJ about how all of the UK is going through a budget crunch and instead of stimulus they're tightening thier belts across the country. didn't realize just how tight it's gonna get until now. WOW!!