RIP RAF?: One-Third of Britain’s Air Force Can’t Fly

Not a good condition for an air force to be in.

One-third of Britain’s military aircraft isn’t available to fly, according to British media.“Figures unearthed by freedom of information campaigners show 142 of 434 of the air force’s planes have been sidelined,” said the British tabloid Daily Mirror .


Some planes and helicopters have been mothballed, while others are down for major maintenance. The problem spans numerous models, including the Royal Air Force’s flagship fighter, the Eurofighter Typhoon.


“Military top brass revealed 55 of the 156 Typhoon jets are in the RAF’s ‘sustainment fleet’ - and not in its ‘forward fleet’ ready to be deployed on operations,” the Mirror said. Even aircraft in the forward fleet, which should be available for operations, are down as “short-term unserviceable aircraft.”


In addition to the Typhoons, “five out of 20 Atlas A400M transport planes are in the sustainment fleet - despite the first of its type only being delivered in 2014,” said the Mirror.


Almost half of the RAF’s jet trainers are down. “Some 44 of 81 Hawk T1 jets - used by trainee fast jet pilots and the world famous Red Arrows [RAF aerobatics team] - are in storage or maintenance,” the Mirror said.
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