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FWIW I knew already.

I also knew that the Tornado was at one time known as the MRCA-75 because it was supposed to enter service in 1975.

As the Red UK is spending a lot more on defence it can throw more resources at the Tornado ITTL. Two-and-a-half times more than the combined total on IDS IOTL and five times more on the IDS ITTL.

E.g. they can build more prototypes and pre-production aircraft to complete the development flying sooner. IOTL 15 plus one STA were built, but early on a grand total of 43 plus STAs were planned. There's enough money to build that many aircraft ITTL.

That's fine by me. Although the Red RAF will probably want British engines and the Soviet Air Force may want them too as they'll probably be better.

I agree.

I've got about 720 GR.1 to T.4 including some T.4s for the RN and 550 "Big Wing" Harriers on order or planned.

Summary of Red RAF squadrons at 31.03.90 by role and type.

• 55 Fighter squadrons including 10 with the TASMO Force.
  • 35 Tornado ADV squadrons including 10 with the TASMO Force.
  • 20 Phantom squadrons - which they can't have - either MiG-25s or a British Phantom substitute.
• 85 Ground Attack and Reconnaissance squadrons (70 GA and 15 R).
  • 55 Tornado GR.1 squadrons (45 GA and 10 R).
  • 15 Jaguar GR.1 squadrons (10 GA and 5 R).
  • 15 Harrier GA squadrons.
• 10 Maritime Strike squadrons with Buccaneer S.2s in the TASMO Force.
• 20 Maritime Patrol squadrons (plus detachments equal to 2½ squadrons) with Nimrod MR.2s.
• 40 Reserve squadrons to be formed from the Operational Conversion Units and Tactical Weapons Units.
  • 5 Tornado ADV squadrons to be formed from the OCUs.
  • 5 Phantom squadrons to be formed from the OCUs - which they can't have - see above.
  • 5 Tornado GR squadrons to be formed from the TWCUs.
  • 20 Hawk T.1A squadrons to be formed from the TWUs.
  • 5 Nimrod MR.2 squadrons to be formed from the OCUs.
• 5 AEW squadrons - with 35 Boeing E-3 Sentries - which they can't have - see the discussion on the alternatives earlier in the thread.
• 5 Electronic Reconnaissance squadrons with Nimrod R.1s and Canberras.
• 15 Tanker squadrons.
  • 5 Victor K.2 squadrons.
  • 5 VC.10 K.2 and K.3 squadrons.
  • 5 Tristars as tanker-transports - which they can't have - they may have the nearest Illushin airliner to the Tristar ITTL.
• 25 Fixed-Wing Transport squadrons.
  • 5 VC.10 C.1 squadrons.
  • 20 Antonov An-12 squadrons instead of 20 C-130K Hercules squadrons.
• 35 Helicopter Transport squadrons.
  • 10 Chinook HC.1 squadrons - which they can't have IOTL - maybe WG.11s.
  • 10 Puma HC.1 squadrons - which they can't have - maybe Westland's OTL rival to the Puma or more Mi-4s or more Bristol 214s.
  • 10 Wessex HC.2 squadrons - which they can't have - maybe licence built Mi-4s or Bristol 214s.
  • 5 composite squadrons.
• 15 Helicopter SAR squadrons with Sea King HAR.3s and Wessex HAR.2s - which they can't have.
  • Maybe Mi-4s or Bristol 214s instead of Wessex
    • And.
  • Whatever the Red RN buys instead its Sea Kings instead of the RAF's Sea Kings.
• 25 Miscellaneous squadrons.
  • 10 Communications squadrons.
  • 5 Calibration squadrons with Andover E.3s.
  • 5 Target-Towing squadrons with Canberras.
  • 5 Training squadrons with Canberras.
• 5 Bloodhound SAM squadrons.
  • There were 10 squadrons at 30.06.89 which were reduced to 5 by merging pairs of squadrons.
  • So the total number of flights on 31.03.90 was the same as on 30.06.89.

Grand total 340 squadrons which will require about 450,000 airmen and women. However, all other things being equal there were plenty of unemployed to conscript and the proportion of women can be increased.