The state of UK airpower and its inability to counter the growing threat of war has been laid bare in a damning report by an influential group of British MPs.
After more than a year of taking evidence from military leaders, government ministers, defence industry leaders and other experts, the UK Parliament’s Defence Select Committee has published its findings in a report called “Winging It”. It reveals serious concerns about the imminent retirement of the RAF’s Tranche 1 Typhoon FGR4 multi-role fighters; slow growth and increasing costs of the UK Lightning Force; the decision to reduce the E-7A Wedgetail AEW1 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) fleet to just three aircraft; the early retirement of the C-130J Hercules C4/C5 tactical transport fleet; and serious problems with training new fast-jet pilots.
