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That's a discussion point! In the post New Labour/wars of liberal intervention world that Cameron looks to it likely would be possible to live without it. Also, deep strike means Storm Shadow largely - LGB's, Brimstone etc. missions can be done by a Harrier or Typhoon with tanker support. Presumably some Iranian or North Korean bunker busting scenario can be used to justify the capability (BROACH is good at that), but will it be the UK doing such a thing? There are more likely candidates in any such missions. And as I understand it, using Storm Shadow in Iraq required a lawyer in the loop and several days for mission planning. Not very flexible.As for the only likely UK interventions, Sierra Leone type ops, deep strike is virtually irrelevant. Flexibility would matter more. However, Army support from a Royal Navy ship is not a core justification for a separate RAF - their reflex defence for their separate existence (with very few combat aircraft now) is always deep strike. Hence keeping 5 Tornado squadrons (though the main official justification is to keep 10 in Afghanistan for Army support, not deep strike - Harrier maintained the Afghan commitment with only 3 squadrons and 6-8 in theatre)Anyway, I have heard from several sources that final UK Harrier ops will be in mid December 2010. The RAF pushed for instant termination after the SDSR, Cameron announced April 2011, so the difference has been split.
That's a discussion point! In the post New Labour/wars of liberal intervention world that Cameron looks to it likely would be possible to live without it. Also, deep strike means Storm Shadow largely - LGB's, Brimstone etc. missions can be done by a Harrier or Typhoon with tanker support. Presumably some Iranian or North Korean bunker busting scenario can be used to justify the capability (BROACH is good at that), but will it be the UK doing such a thing? There are more likely candidates in any such missions. And as I understand it, using Storm Shadow in Iraq required a lawyer in the loop and several days for mission planning. Not very flexible.
As for the only likely UK interventions, Sierra Leone type ops, deep strike is virtually irrelevant. Flexibility would matter more. However, Army support from a Royal Navy ship is not a core justification for a separate RAF - their reflex defence for their separate existence (with very few combat aircraft now) is always deep strike. Hence keeping 5 Tornado squadrons (though the main official justification is to keep 10 in Afghanistan for Army support, not deep strike - Harrier maintained the Afghan commitment with only 3 squadrons and 6-8 in theatre)
Anyway, I have heard from several sources that final UK Harrier ops will be in mid December 2010. The RAF pushed for instant termination after the SDSR, Cameron announced April 2011, so the difference has been split.
