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RAF Base Closings In Next Two Decades?

Lumberton From United States, joined Jul 2005, 3452 posts, RR: 13
Posted (3 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 1086 times:

From AW&ST. Says Eurofighter basing may be restricted to two bases.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gener...wo%20Bases%3C/p%3E&channel=defense

Quote:
A British Royal Air Force (RAF) base consolidation program will likely see Typhoon operations restricted to two main operating sites, with the option of a third location now under review.

The RAF could see three main operating bases closing over the coming two decades as the Harrier GR9 and Tornado GR4 reach the end of their service lives. The future of Cottesmore will be reconsidered when the GR9 is withdrawn from service some time around 2018. Similarly, the 2025 out-of-service date of the Tornado GR4 also places a question mark over the long-term future of Marham.

Discussion started four years ago on this thread.
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/military/read.main/19602/

"When all is said and done, more will be said than done".

7 replies: All unread, jump to last

ACW367 From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2007, 145 posts, RR: 0
Reply 1, posted (3 months 1 week 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 1052 times:

This is not news, over 30 RAF bases have closed in the last 15 years (not all were flying stations admittedly). This document is a holistic prediction that four or five more bases may close in the next 15 years. It will be a lot more than that if you include ground bases as we move more to tri-service training establishments.

It is common sense that as the Tornado GR and Harrier are replaced by lessor numbers of more efficient JSF and probably UCAV, then less bases will be required. Same happened when Tornado replaced Vulcan, Buccaneer, phantom and Lightning. Same happened when Phantom replaced the earlier generation.

Currently:
ISTAR - 2 bases - Waddington/Kinloss
Tor GR - 2 bases - Lossie/Marham
Air Defence - 2 bases - Leuchars/Coningsby
Harrier - 1 1/2 bases - Cottesmore + training at Wittering
Transport/refuelling - 3 bases - Brize/Lyneham(closing)/Northolt
Support helicopters: 3 bases - Benson/Odiham/Aldergrove
Total: 13 1/2 bases

My prediction at 2025 would be:
ISTAR- 1 base
UCAV - 1 base
Swing role (typhoon) - 2 bases for geographic Renegade threat reasons only. (Third base possibly exists but will be colocated with UCAV assets)
JSF - 1 base
Transport/refuelling - 1 base
Support Helicopters:1 base (for Chinook replacement) - I predict Merlin will be collocated on a Joint forces base with types like Apache and Navy Merlin

Total: 6-8 bases

KC135TopBoom From United States, joined Jan 2005, 5396 posts, RR: 35
Reply 2, posted (3 months 1 week 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 949 times:

"Never in the course of human history has so much been owed to so few, by so many"

Winston Churchill speech after the Battle of Britian thanking the RAF, Sept. 1940

Now, you Brits want to make the RAF a second rate Air Force, like you have already done to the RN a second rate Navy?

Jackonicko From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2008, 244 posts, RR: 4
Reply 3, posted (3 months 1 week 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 913 times:

You mistake size for quality, Toppers.

A common error for Americans.

Wink wink.

KC135TopBoom From United States, joined Jan 2005, 5396 posts, RR: 35
Reply 4, posted (3 months 1 week 23 hours ago) and read 862 times:

Quoting Jackonicko (Reply 3):
You mistake size for quality, Toppers.

A common error for Americans.

Yeah, Americans have always like that "mine is bigger than yours" argument. duck

KennyK From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2005, 293 posts, RR: 0
Reply 5, posted (3 months 1 week 17 hours ago) and read 823 times:

Don't forget the contract has just been signed for the two biggest warships EVER built for the Royal Navy, were betting big carriers again.

Jackonicko From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2008, 244 posts, RR: 4
Reply 6, posted (3 months 1 week 15 hours ago) and read 808 times:

"Don't forget the contract has just been signed for the two biggest warships EVER built for the Royal Navy"

Whoopee. One of the biggest reasons that everything else is being cut to the bone, and all so that we have the slowest, most vulnerable, and most manpower intensive way of deploying offensive air power......

Alien From Afghanistan, joined Mar 2008, 333 posts, RR: 0
Reply 7, posted (3 months 1 week 11 hours ago) and read 778 times:

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Quoting Jackonicko (Reply 6):
One of the biggest reasons that everything else is being cut to the bone,

No Jack, that would be the Typhoon program. I will not go through the bother of backing up my assertions 9yet again) with printed facts from the NAO but suffice to say the 16+ Billion Pound program cost for the Eurofighter dwarfs the 4 Billion or so Pound cost of your two carriers. Don't expect a reply to whatever you come up with unless you have a source.

Boeing 747 - STILL QUEEN OF THE SKIES

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