Quote: Juan Cornetto "If the upgrades work then we should stick with for now. However the cost is relevant if it becomes higher than buying off the peg. I am sure the USA would sell the F22 to the RAF in the future if we needed it.'"
Fine except 1) US Law prohibits the sale of the F22 abroad and 2) an F-22 export version would have significantly fewer capabilities than the U.S. version and this could weaken the business case for an export jet and 3) the additional re-design costs would have to be incorporated into the price of the jet making them even more prohibitively expensive to acquire (considering the small quantity that would be involved this would be a considerable additional expence) and 4) the additional conversion to type costs - pilot training, maintenance service lines, integration into electronic systems etc. would also be huge for the comparitvely few 'B' spec jets bought.
Quote: Juan Cornetto "I already did comment. It is not true. My sources are pilots (but of course only a few) but the RAF/MOD policy and the Governement cuts would also imply that they too would not agree with this angry Harrier pilot who may lose his job. '"
Is Ian Smith Watson a pilot or just someone who posts his opinion on the internet for you to present as your own?
It were true in Operation Granby where the Buccaneers were needed to laser designate targets for the GR1's after they were re-tasked to medium level operations after suffering an unacceptably high attrition rate at low level but that was then and this now I guess.
When the GR4's replaced the Harriers in Afghanistan Des Browne (Defence Secretary) described Joint Force Harrier’s provision of close air support services in theatre as "Amongst the most potent of all our capabilities in deterring and denying the insurgency.” But also noting
Not quite 'in' the Falklands though is it. At 7500 Km's it would present a logistical nightmare and sortie durations would also be completely impractical in providing support to the grunts on the ground. The subs it is then if they can manage to navigate their way out of harbour without beaching themselves.
Quote: Juan Cornetto "As Defence Secretary Liam Fox has to stand up for the Military otherwise he would lose all their respect. I don't doubt the views he has expressed are genuine. But he is a right winger and a champion of the the back bench right wing, so he also is taking a political stance against the Centre Coalition thinking. So this political aspect has to be factored in to get a balanced view.
Funny you siding with a right winger! I prefer Wilf Rosenberg'"
The Nation's Security is not a left, centre or right of politics issue for me. Perhaps you will discover I'm not as left wing as you wish to portray me?
I now look forward to seeing the details of the much trumpeted but so far invisible Universal Credit proposals from the other noted right wing Tory left in the cabinet.