The cuts

[TJD]

Here we have it - ouch

 A reduction in requirement for Tornado F3 deployable Air Defence capability will result in the disbandment of one F3 Sqn (XI(F) Sqn) by 31 October 2005. With the transition to Typhoon, all Tornado F3s are expected to withdraw from Leeming in 2008. Subject to the findings of a review of the future requirements for Defence airfields (see below), other units could then be based at Leeming. The migration plan of squadron numberplates to Typhoon squadrons will be the subject of a later briefing note.
 The Jaguar out-of-service date will be bought forward to 31 October 2007. The first sqn (54 Sqn) will draw down by 1 April 2005 together with the Operational Evaluation Unit and Operational Conversion Unit (OCU). The second sqn (41(F) Sqn) will close by 1 April 2006 whereupon the third sqn (6 Sqn) will re-deploy to Coningsby. The closure of Coltishall airfield will take effect by December 2006.
 The Nimrod MR2 fleet will reduce from its current strength of 21 aircraft and 31 crews, to 16 aircraft and 22 crews by 1 April 2005. It is planned that the replacement and more capable MRA4 fleet will now be around 12 aircraft strong, although there is still much work to be done with industry before we reach a final decision.
 Changes will also be introduced in the RAF Search and Rescue (SAR) force where it is planned that the military engineering support will be contractorised. At the same time, to maximise training benefits, we plan to move the RAF St Mawgan SAR OCU and Force HQ to RAF Valley alongside the operational SAR Flight. The long-term requirement for RAF St Mawgan will be considered as part of the review of the future requirements for Defence airfields.
 Within Joint Helicopter Command, a number of changes will impact on RAF personnel. There will be an adjustment in the size of the Puma force to reflect the improving security situation in Northern Ireland - 6 aircraft and 9 crews will be withdrawn from 230 Sqn. Other changes may emerge from the review of the future requirements for Defence airfields and the helicopter procurement programmes, details of which will be reported in due course.
 The four in-service C17 aircraft will be purchased when their current lease expires and an additional C17 aircraft will be purchased.
 With a 50% reduction in ground-based air defence across the Services, the RAF Regiment will give-up its Rapier short range air defence role. Residual ground-based air defence capabilities will in future be provided by the Royal Artillery and the 4 RAF Regiment Rapier squadrons will disband over the next few years. A new ground-based air defence HQ will be formed within HQSTC. The 2 smaller RAF Regiment Field Sqns (3 Sqn and 63 Sqn) will be brought up to full strength enabling them to contribute more fully to the RAF Regiment’s expeditionary force structure.
 The service life of the VC10 and TriStar will be extended by 2 years to ensure continuing air refuelling support, pending delivery of a new tanker capability.

 Following the various PTC/STC studies over the last 2 years, work will be taken forward with a view to collocate HQSTC and HQPTC staffs at a single site to deliver the RAF Command HQ staff functions more efficiently.

 With the changes in force structures outlined above, and the other MOD efficiencies already in hand, the trained strength of the RAF will reduce to 41,000 by 1 April 2008 from its current level of around 48,500. This reduction will be managed through a combination of natural wastage, recruiting adjustments and a redundancy programme. This will enable the Service to maintain a satisfactory balance between skills, capability, experience, seniority in rank and promotion prospects. The details of how the redundancy programme will be administered will be announced towards the end of the year.

 The review of the future requirements for Defence airfields, mentioned above, will be looking for opportunities to deliver military aviation requirements across all 3 Services with fewer, larger and better supported bases. The findings will be announced in 2005.
The Army, Royal Navy and civilian areas of the Ministry of Defence are also affected by the Secretary of State’s announcement. The main points are:
 The frigate and destroyer fleet will be drawn down from 31 to 25, through the removal of 3 Type 42 destroyers (CARDIFF, NEWCASTLE and GLASGOW) and 3 Type 23 frigates (NORFOLK, MARLBOROUGH and GRAFTON) by March 2006.
 The nuclear attack submarine force will reduce from 10 to 8 by paying off SUPERB and TRAFALGAR by December 2008.
 Mine Counter Measure vessels will reduce from 19 to 16 through paying off INVERNESS, BRIDPORT and SANDOWN by April 2005.
 RN manpower will fall from 37,500 to around 36,000 by April 2008.
 The Army will migrate towards a new structure rebalanced to better equip them to conduct the full range of military tasks on concurrent small and medium scale operations. The new emphasis will be on medium weight forces. Key reductions in capability over the next four years will be:
 7 Challenger 2 armoured squadrons.
 6 AS90 gun batteries.
 72 High Velocity Missile fire units from the Territorial Army.
 4 Infantry Battalions.
 Army manpower will reduce to around 102,000 commencing immediately and completed by the time NI normalisation is achieved.
 More than 10,000 civilian posts are being removed across the Department and further work is in hand to determine the breakdown of this.
 There will be a number of rationalisations of the MOD HQ infrastructure in London. The number of MOD Head Office locations in London will reduce to 2 and staff numbers have already reduced to 4900

[Spannerman]

Pretty well as much as what was expected.

A leaner and slimmer armed forces in the UK will eventually lead to a larger European Armed Force, that is the way I see it!

[tyke172]

Doesn't make good reading.

How can 6 Regiment Squadrons be forced into 2?!

By the time i join i just hope there's still a RAF Regiment full stop.

[garth]

for that matter will there still be an RAF?

[Hostage_Negotiator]

Ladies and Gentlemen'
Welcome to the Royal Flying Club!

[dazzaw23]

as reguards what was stated above, what is happening to the disbanded aircraft, are they being scrapped, and what will happen to all the personnal losing their jobs??will they be retrained or just made redundant?

[garth]

doubtfull they will all be scrapped - most likley is they will mostly be sold on..


on the subject of selling military stuff - i heard today how the usa + uk knew iraq had wmd's - we looked at the receipts