Claims have today emerged that the Royal Air Force will be downsized in a bid to reduce government spending within the defence sector. It is understood that the proposal in question will see two squadrons of Tornado GR4 bombers axed, and the funding that would have sustained them instead used to boost war efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. This would leave four squadrons remaining.

In terms of aircraft numbers, the six present GR4 squadrons each have a complement of 12 Tornadoes and four spare airframes. Complementing these is a single evaluation unit and a training squadron. In September 2007, the Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Glenn Torpy, highlighted how, with 42,000 personnel, the Royal Air Force’s situation was “as lean as it can get”. However, high-ranking figures within the RAF have now been advised that, with the need to reinforce the UK armed forces’ presence in areas of global conflict, economy measures have to be implemented elsewhere.

In line with the terms of the Comprehensive Spending Review, it is planned that the fighter version of the Tornado – the 20-year-old F-3, will remain in service until 2014. This extended service life is due to the delay in the RAF’s receipt of Eurofighter Typhoons, owing to the recent deal with Saudi Arabia, through which 75 examples of the 21^st century combat jet will be delivered to the Middle East.

Additionally, a large proportion of the defence budget is allocated to new projects, such as the Future Aircraft Carrier - confirmation for the go-ahead of which was recently given.

Among Tory backbenchers, the general sentiment is that the present and future demands of the UK defence industry will be unmet unless an (minimum) additional £3 million is injected into it each year.

In recent weeks, it was reported that cuts would also be imposed on the Royal Navy, with five warships to be decommissioned. Should this go ahead, the remaining fleet would possess significantly less force than the French Navy.

Information provided so far by the Ministry of Defence appeared to support the downsize claims, with confirmation given that it was now engaged in a “planning round”, following which it would “look at (defence) priorities” early in 2008. A spokesman from the MoD added: "For now we have just begun the process of identifying possible options. But many savings measures we look at in draft never come close to be being taken.

“Speculation at this stage is just that - and has no effect on the eventual content of the programme."

While, then, clearly no concrete decision has been made, Armed Forces International will continue to provide unrivalled coverage of the very latest information to emerge regarding the present and future of the UK’s armed forces.

Source – Armed Forces International’s Aviation Expert

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