Bye Bye RAF

[Thedelldays]

and now the head of the RAF has admitted it is a possibility within the next 10 years...

 

others also think they could easily be absorbed by the RN and Army

 

http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/5602,news-comment,news-politics,itrsquos-time-to-abolish-the-raf

[sotonjoe]

good good. stop wasting money. Our unit numbers across the armed forces already show we're a military nobody, I can't see what we're chasing tbh.

[moonraker]

Not as easy at it sounds, if the treasury are leading some similar to the Canadian model might be the outcome i.e. a single defence force

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

There's certainly a good case for the Army taking control of all tactical helicopters and drones with the RN taking over the Nimrod maritime patrol force and SAR , but the complete abolition of the RAF ? that seems a 'bridge too far' to my mind . There are still air missions that don't seem to fit in at all well with the proper role of a army or navy - such as air defence of the UK , battlefield air superiority , strategic reconnaissance ... etc .

 

If this drastic measure were to occur however the RAF would have no one to blame for their downfall but themselves in my view . From a historical perspective the RAF's obsession with the failed concept of strategic (area) bombing before and during WWII was a frightful drain on resources that could surely have been better used elsewhere , and its prewar control (and neglect) of naval aviation would leave the RN grossly inferior to its US & Japanese counterparts for much of the war . I must stress I make absolutely no criticism of the magnificent effort and sacrifice the RAF's aircrew have made for this nation ever since its formation in 1918 , but sometimes it does seem we have won wars and battles in spite of having an independent air force rather than because of it .

 

Even today the balance of our air power is all wrong . We have far too many 'fast jets' (Typhoon/Tornado/Harrier) and not nearly enough transport aircraft and army support helicopters (C17/Chinook/Puma) . This can partly be explained by the fact that the strategic situation has changed radically since the end of the cold war but the suspicion remains that the real reason we are so 'top heavy' with supersonic fighters is because that is what the RAF top brass really prefer to spend its money on rather than (dull frankly) transports and helicopters .

 

Regardless of its faults I don't see the abolition of the RAF actually happening anytime soon as this would surely be a political disaster for any government proposing it . Memories of Fighter Commands heroic defence of the nation during the Battle of Britain and the 50,000 men Bomber Command lost bombing Nazi Germany run deep in this country (and justifiably so many would say) but the case for a reformed RAF that is much more focused on supporting the needs of the other two services seems very a strong one .