Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
Nuclear weapons work very well (as a deterrent) against other nations with nuclear weapons, they are of little value against an enemy that hides among us; cancel the nuclear submarine program. Give the Trident missiles back to the US who are far better financially disposed to maintain them and at least they don't need permission from themselves to fire them.
With most of the colonies now handed back and the Falklands properly garrisoned, it's not always clear why we need two new aircraft carriers, what's the argument for UK force projection? The US already has a well defined capability in this area; trying to have the same toys as the big boys just seems to me like an expensive folly.
The Typhoon is a great aircraft that turned up for work on its first day to find its job had gone but what do you do with something that's already fielded?
The money saved could be used to upgrade existing keels for the RN and properly equip troops for the Army. The RAF's a bit of a grey area but I'd be looking to get the best out of the Tornado for the remainder of its service life for ground target support, rather than the Typhoon for air combat.
Nuclear weapons work very well (as a deterrent) against other nations with nuclear weapons, they are of little value against an enemy that hides among us; cancel the nuclear submarine program. Give the Trident missiles back to the US who are far better financially disposed to maintain them and at least they don't need permission from themselves to fire them.
With most of the colonies now handed back and the Falklands properly garrisoned, it's not always clear why we need two new aircraft carriers, what's the argument for UK force projection? The US already has a well defined capability in this area; trying to have the same toys as the big boys just seems to me like an expensive folly.
The Typhoon is a great aircraft that turned up for work on its first day to find its job had gone but what do you do with something that's already fielded?
The money saved could be used to upgrade existing keels for the RN and properly equip troops for the Army. The RAF's a bit of a grey area but I'd be looking to get the best out of the Tornado for the remainder of its service life for ground target support, rather than the Typhoon for air combat.
I would keep Trident as its a cover that will be the ultimate deterrent for decades to come and looked at in that view is pretty good value for money.
The carrier program should be scrapped - we can launch S/VTOL aircraft from HMS Ocean, so why have the carriers? IMHO, both should be sold off as soon as they're completed, and we should get out of the F-35 program as it is already very late and massively over budget.
Likewise, cut back the Typhoon program, and get more out of Tornado - it's old, but it still does the job we ask of it.
IFor the USAF the first suggestions I have are as follows. Some of these are probably underway but I am not really up to date on what the status is.
1 Get control of the purchasing process.
As I understand it Congress can force the USAF to buy aircraft that the USAF haven't asked for. Where is the logic in that?.
2 Reduce the number of types of Heavy Bomber
Do the USAF really need the B2, B1 and B52. Retire either the B1 or the B52. The B2 is unique and should be kept
3 Retire the F16 and A10
4 Merge the USN and Marine Air assets
I cannot see any situation where the Marine Air assets would go into action without the USN or USAF. A case could be made for them to retain attack and transport helicopters but not strike/fighter aircraft.
3 Retire the F16 and A10
Hell even Italy has a carriers. You woefully lack helicopter assets though
I would not want to get rid of either of those. Why would you want to retire them?
By the way I read somewhere that the decomission of the ark royal in 1978 was a big mistake (according to some british authors the presence of that ship would deter any argentine invasion in 1982)
All Argentina needed to do was wait for the Ark to go say three months into a major refit and then attack.