Ex-Forces

ButcherBill

ButcherBill

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ButcherBill said:
I honestly don't think my 4 years in the TA count but Maybe I should lose a little weight in case someone needs a hot breakfast at the range.

www.forcesnews.com

Strategic Reserve age limit rising to 65 so more can be recalled should war loom

Armed Forces Minister Al Carns explains a number of changes are being made to bolster the UK's reserves and simplify the recall process
www.forcesnews.com www.forcesnews.com
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I've often wondered if I would get called back after my 6 years as an armourer in the RAF. But been out 12 years now so hopefully I'm ok for a while. Definitely couldn't pass a 1.5 mile or msft these days.
 
I am not sure how this is going to work for those of us who are past the earlier maximum age but below the new maximum age.
 
Colin Allen said:
I don't think they do; the realisation that we can no longer rely on support from the US will hopefully lead to rearmament and consequent increased and more effective military spending; it will hurt financially, but is necessary.
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We definitely need to increase our military spending, but don't know where from.
 
ButcherBill said:
Saw this yesterday & the biggest take for me was the new IW must be produced in the UK.
I don't know what the current UK scale of smallarms production/capabilities is but that point gets a woohoo from me. (if it happens)

View: https://youtu.be/YG39-QSQI9I?si=in64-6TpkkMTVU1c
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We need to create a national arms industry again. Relying on outside contractors only works as long as supply lines survive the initial stages of any conflict. Or if our allies remain our allies. More state run arms companies offering training and long term employment is a great way to beat the out of work numbers too. On a lighter note I'm glad my dad is officially too old even with the new limits as his eyesight would be more of a danger to our own than any hypothetical enemy!
 
Colin Allen said:
I don't think they do; the realisation that we can no longer rely on support from the US will hopefully lead to rearmament and consequent increased and more effective military spending; it will hurt financially, but is necessary.
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Maybe we can buy our harriers & hercs back from the yanks, for the same pittance they paid us for them hopefully 😏
 
Tackle said:
Maybe we can buy our harriers & hercs back from the yanks, for the same pittance they paid us for them hopefully 😏
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If only. I was so gutted about harriers. I had it as a first option for my future postings. Then soon they retired them and I was gutted. Loved those things and a very underestimated airframe when they scrapped, the only fixed wing aircraft in our inventory that could carry out close air support.
 
Rickwales said:
We definitely need to increase our military spending, but don't know where from.
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Getting the immensely rich to pay their share of tax might be a good place to start, as would dealing properly with the non-dom tax issue. After that, we would have to look at either significant cuts to other funding or increased taxation.
 
Colin Allen said:
Unfortunately, the Harrier is long obsolete and we have little or no capability to produce our own modern combat aircraft.
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I think with updates the harrier would still be very capable on the front lines. Yes it doesn't have the element of a 5th gen fighter but CAS doesn't rely on Stealth as the enemy already knows your there. It was very good at coming in low and fast and only aircraft we had at the time capable of carrying crv-7 rockets that where very effective in the front line of Afghanistan.

Don't get me wrong it is definitely an ageing airframe but not 100% obsolete as not much has come about that can do what it can. Yes the f35b is VTOL but it cant do what the harrier did, the marine corps wouldn't still be using it if it was obsolete.
 
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