Read the whole thing but the death spiral of an Air Force is occurring right before our eyes. It will be years...maybe decades before the erosion in air power can be reversed. I think its safe to say that militarily the British are no longer a leading power in Europe.The situation is so serious that the RAF has halted the teaching of trainee Typhoon pilots so instructors can be drafted on to the front line, according to air force sources. The handful of pilots used for air shows will also be withdrawn from displays this summer.The shortage has arisen because cuts to the defence budget over the past decade have limited the number of pilots who have been trained to fly the new Typhoon.There are also fewer newly qualified pilots coming through after the RAF was forced to cut a quarter of its trainee places due to cuts announced in last year’s Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Think about it. The Germans arguably have the most powerful Army. Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands have navies that are equal to or more powerful than the Royal Navy. And when it comes to air power its even more dire.
hehe, Solomon you're giving us delusions of grandeur!
ReplyDeleteThe Netherlands can't really be classed in the same category as the Brits, as we are smaller on all levels (population, troops, investments, budget). Even with the coming defense cuts for both the Dutch and Brits, the Netherlands will still be outranked by a factor three, if not more, compared to the UK.
The Netherlands does share the same pro-Atlantic, strategic outlook and global views with the UK (and US), compared with traditional, Euro-centric countries like Germany and France. We just can't back that up with military power anymore.
Next friday the budget axe is going to fall for the Netherlands (again) with a billion-plus to be cut - we'll again be losing capability.
All kinds of wild rumors abound from cutting the entire submarine service, a third of the six frigates, an LPD, a fleet oiler, half of the helo fleet, perhaps even an entire marine battalion.
Needless to say we're dreading another Black Friday.
Ah yes, the Telegraph. Enough said.
ReplyDeleteSol, the MoD have categorically denied the story. The Telegraph is rapidly turning into a tabloid with bigger words than normal.
ReplyDeleteGermany on paper has a powerful Army but are they deployable or just lines on a spreadsheet
Italy, Spain and the Netherlands have decent navies but again, are they globally deployable with all the supporting enablers?
Have you forgot the deployment of UK forces in Afghanistan in comparison with those others and deployments elsewhere
I agree that UK forces are suffering but rumours of our demise are greatly exaggerated
WRT the Spanish navy...
ReplyDeleteCurrently 4 S70 subs. Only two of them kinda, sorta float.
5 Burke-like frigates in good shape [one of them not yet commissioned].
6 Perry-ish ones, probably not that well maintained --maintenance is the great Achilles, I believe, of the Spanish Navy... or rather, of its flags and MPs--.
A single propeller CVE. And a just commissioned LHD.
Couple extra amphibs and three logisticals
...and the rest of it is more Coast Guard than Navy, from a US POV, I'd say (cutters, offshore patrols, small MCMs...). Granted, 4 newer AIP subs on the line, but...
If you want a visual of the near future: http://img15.imageshack.us/f/flota9fy.jpg/
Take care.
I think the general downsizing of militaries in Europe is heading towards the innevitable necessity of a EU military. This is something France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium have been pushing for, but its moving from the realm of pipe dream to necessity, to maintain viability.
ReplyDelete"Think about it. The Germans arguably have the most powerful Army. Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands have navies that are equal to or more powerful than the Royal Navy. And when it comes to air power its even more dire."
ReplyDeleteWhat?
Ditto with Jeffrey.
ReplyDeleteFocus on the eventual force structure they will have after the reorganization (for ALA, it's called Air 2010), rather than just the process of the reorganization. BTW, all display team pilots (Thunderbirds pilots included) are frontline pilots.
ReplyDeleteThe viability of independent European militaries is only diminishing, but combined they'd have a strong base of special forces and a navy and airforce capable of both defending Europe and projecting power globally. If they act sooner rather than later, they can act to preserve and select the best parts of each nations services to integrate rather than be left with purely necessity driving what they need to buy to replace some diminished capacity.
ReplyDelete"Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands have navies that are equal to or more powerful than the Royal Navy."
ReplyDeleteNot in SSNs, only France comes close and their boats are old. Brit subs are top rate, they carry a torpedo equal to ours (which out classes just about everything else in the world), and carry both Harpoon and Tomahawk (only country outside of the USA to do so).
It might be wise for the British to consider an area denial strategy for their navy. If we take for example the Falklands; instead of planning to go back down there and retake them, plan to deny the seas around them and prevent them from being taken in the first place.
Carriers, 'phibs and Marines are nice but use of them is not the only naval strategy out there.
are u sure about the subs equation? when i look at the other European powers in comparison to the UK one sub keeps coming up. the German U212 and more advanced models.
ReplyDeletediesel electric subs are deadly and the other navies have them. as far as Carriers, phibs and Marines are concerned...i would say that accounts for at least 3/4 of the sea power equation.
VERY GOOD!
ReplyDeleteSol, what appears to be at least, wising up.
@Soloman: The Type 212 while a good boat is still not up to the level of an SSN. Compared to an SSN it is around 15 knots slower, has 1/3 the weapons, and half the endurance and size (Smaller size for a submarine = smaller sensors). Diesel submarines are great for defending your coast out two several thousand NM, but trying to send them overseas to fight isn't as feasible, not matter what sometime, somewhere is must snort and if your enemy has a modern submarine defense they will find it then.
ReplyDeleteWhile carriers and marine units account for a lot of sea power potential the only way marines can be effective is if the force using them can establish air parity (not necessary superiority, Operation Corporate prove that was not necessary) and undersea superiority. If one side cannot keep its enemies submarines clear of its fleet than it might as well just stay in port like Argentina after the General Belgrano, otherwise it risks one submarine literally wiping out its entire task force: one sub like an Astute has around 40 torpedoes, using two fish per target is SOP so that could account for up to 20 ships, can anyone imagine a modern day naval operation going forward after 20 ships had been sunk? ...can anyone imagine one after four or five? ...or even one?!?
Carrier Combat Group (American or otherwise) ALWAYS includes at least one hunter-killer sub; that's a given.
ReplyDeleteYour source is a bit SNAFU in its own respect XD It isn;t that bad yet.
ReplyDelete