Royal Air Force Overstretched, Says Senior Officer
The struggling nature of the modern-day Royal Air Force was today highlighted by a senior officer from within its ranks, who described how it was less overstretched in World War 2 than now. Air Chief Marshal Sir Clive Loader's comments were made during an interview with Flight International magazine, in which he attributed the situation to the demands placed by the ongoing hostilities in Iraq and Afghanistan. A further factor, he added, was the streamlining process through which, by early next year, the RAF's personnel will total approximately 40,000.
The Royal Air Force, said Sir Clive, needed to prepare for a "medium war" in respect of Afghanistan, in which the both the resilience and effectiveness of the force would be tested. The current situation there may well still be the case by 2011, he added.
Sir Clive maintained that the situation was not beyond rescue, but that a number of key areas needed remedying with some urgency. As far as he is concerned, the solution would involve finding equilibrium between factors of operation, personnel and equipment.
The notion of the Royal Air Force's overstretch coincides with its current "relief in place" operation. In the operation, the RAF is backing the rotation of over 12,000 troops in Afghanistan. Combined with regular air transport missions, the operation will further burden the RAF's heavy lift fleet - including its C-130J/K Hercules and Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.
As detailed by Sir Clive, the four Boeing C-17s currently in RAF service are being operated at 120 per cent of their allocated flying hours. This could generate significant consequences for the force in future years. Although two additional examples of the US-built heavy transport aircraft are being delivered in 2008, as far as Sir Clive is concerned, the strain factor will not reduce appreciably.
The C-130 Hercules, meanwhile, achieved a total of 30,000 hours in the air in 2006. Consequently, said Sir Clive, the RAF needed to exercise caution to ensure the aircraft remained serviceable in the twilight of their careers.
Rationalisation, he concluded, could be the most realistic strategy in respect of achieving a less overstretched force. The ramifications of the Defence Airfield Review - currently being undertaken - could result in savings for the RAF, which could then be injected into developing better air bases.
Source - Armed Forces International's Aviation Expert
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