Read the whole thing but the death spiral of an Air Force is occurring right before our eyes. It will be years...maybe decades before the erosion in air power can be reversed. I think its safe to say that militarily the British are no longer a leading power in Europe.The situation is so serious that the RAF has halted the teaching of trainee Typhoon pilots so instructors can be drafted on to the front line, according to air force sources. The handful of pilots used for air shows will also be withdrawn from displays this summer.The shortage has arisen because cuts to the defence budget over the past decade have limited the number of pilots who have been trained to fly the new Typhoon.There are also fewer newly qualified pilots coming through after the RAF was forced to cut a quarter of its trainee places due to cuts announced in last year’s Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Think about it. The Germans arguably have the most powerful Army. Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands have navies that are equal to or more powerful than the Royal Navy. And when it comes to air power its even more dire.
