UK ‘dangerously exposed’ on account of cuts to fight plane fleet, MPs warn
T
he navy’s fight plane fleet is “alarmingly” low in quantity and would wrestle to defend the UK in an all-out warfare, MPs have mentioned.
Cuts set out within the 2021 Defence Command Paper will create a fight air functionality hole that may persist into the 2030s and leaves Britain “dangerously exposed,” the Commons Defence Committee mentioned in a report.
The panel criticised the retirement of the C-130J Hercules transport plane fleet seven years earlier than its deliberate out-of-service date.
Our present fleet fails to achieve the mass essential to survive the attrition of an all-out warfare with a peer adversary
It mentioned the transfer severely reduces the capability of the RAF’s air mobility fleet to assist defence operations and humanitarian missions, and will hamper the particular forces particularly.
The resolution to scale back the UK’s fleet of Wedgetail E-7 early warning plane from 5 to a few “stands out as the most perverse” of all of the Defence Command Paper’s cuts, the report mentioned.
It additionally known as delays in flying coaching programmes in recent times “completely unacceptable”, saying years-long waits for pilots to qualify harm morale and the effectiveness of the armed forces.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) will spend greater than £55 million sending pilots abroad for fast-jet coaching due to a scarcity of plane availability, MPs famous.
They additionally mentioned the rising reliance on utilizing simulators for flying coaching is “sub-optimal” for pilots and floor crew and “no substitute” for stay flying.
Defence Committee chairman Tobias Ellwood mentioned: “Air power capability can make or break a military. The ability to control the skies is critical in modern warfare and aircraft provide unparalleled reach, height and speed for our armed forces.
“Since the end of the Cold War, the RAF’s fleet has taken a nosedive in numbers, down to just a third of its previous size. Our report, published today, found that budget cuts – including those in the last Defence Command Paper – have led to gaps in air capability that will persist into the next decade.
“Our inquiry found that the RAF has prioritised quality at the expense of quantity, leaving us with a fleet of combat aircraft that are high-spec and expensive yet alarmingly low in number. Our current fleet fails to reach the mass necessary to survive the attrition of an all-out war with a peer adversary. Fixing this is a matter of urgency; allowing capability gaps to bed in will only widen them in the long term.”
He added: “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine signalled the beginning of a darker and more dangerous era for Europe. Despite this, the Ministry of Defence has failed to reverse any of its 2021 cuts to our aviation capabilities.
“If the Ministry of Defence refuses to see the writing on the wall and fails to make adequate investment, there are turbulent times ahead.”
An MoD spokesperson mentioned: “The RAF remains a world leading defence force and has the necessary capabilities to fulfil NATO and UK commitments.
“Offering 24/7 defence of the UK and protecting our overseas territories and interests, the RAF’s capabilities and people play a vital role in addressing threats rapidly and wherever they emerge in the world.
“The RAF is also spearheading transformation by investing in cutting-edge technology and modern aircraft necessary to fly and fight effectively while also rapidly addressing known challenges, such as the flying training pipeline.
“The Committee’s report recognises that the updated Defence Command Paper seeks to tackle the threats we face, now and in the future.”