Douglas Barrie/LONDON
In the wake of two axe-wielding exercises led by the Conservative Government, half-heartedly wrapped in the guise of redefining the strategic role of the UK's armed services, there was concern among the forces that the new Labour Government's defence review would deliver only more of the same.
In the event, the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), unveiled on 9 July after a 14-month gestation, appears to have been more of a genuine attempt at what Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns, Royal Air Force Chief of the Air Staff, describes as a "foreign and security policy-led review".
The aim of the SDR - which was also that proclaimed for its two predecessor studies, Options for Change and Front Line First - was to re-examine the UK's defence policy in the light of the changed strategic environment. Unlike the situation with its two antecedents, Treasury pressures to make across-the-board cuts have been rebuffed, although there will be a 3% reduction in the defence budget by 2002 - a cut of some £915 million.
Despite Defence Secretary George Robertson's claim that the "-Review is radical", in many areas it merely delivers in policy statements what the three services have already been forced to do because of changing operational requirements. This is particularly true of joint service deployments.
In addressing the need to be able to deploy rapidly an effective fighting force, the RAF is almost certain to become a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III operator. The SDR states: "For airlift, we will in the short-term acquire four large aircraft, such as C-17s or their equivalent." The aircraft would be crewed by RAF personnel, and in all probability be based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
While RAF personnel numbers remain unaffected, the service is set to lose offensive support and air defence fast jets - 36 in total. Two squadrons are also to be disbanded, although the personnel will be retasked. A proposal to withdraw the Sepecat Jaguar from service and to close RAF Coltishall was rejected. The Panavia Tornado is also to lose its anti-shipping role.
As for the Eurofighter EF2000 prospects, Johns notes: "Eurofighter remains the cornerstone of the RAF's future equipment programme, and I welcome the Government's commitment to the purchase of 232 aircraft."
The Government, however, now has to turn the rhetoric of the SDR into reality - in particular, what Johns describes as the key theme of "jointery", of tri-service commands - known as Purple commands in the UK.
From the RAF's perspective, the most important of these initiatives appears to be the "formation of a joint RAF/Royal Navy fixed-wing force". This initiative would initially cover the drawing together of the RAF's British Aerospace Harrier GR7s and the RN's BAe Sea Harrier F/A2s.
"The Joint Force 2000, as it will be known," says Johns, "is the first step towards the goal of operating a common aircraft from land and from the future aircraft carriers. "Robertson says that the RN's replacements for the Invincible class of three light aircraft carriers are expected to be introduced into service around 2012.
The Government plans "to replace the current carrier force with two larger vessels-they might be of the order of 30,000-40,000t and capable of deploying up to 50 aircraft, including helicopters", according to the SDR.
The decision to pursue a carrier replacement for the Invincible class is described by Adm Sir Jock Slater, the First Sea Lord, as "the outcome of the biggest single debate in the Review-this decision is of the greatest significance for the Royal Navy".
While no type has yet been selected to meet the future carrier-borne aircraft requirement, the SDR notes that the US Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) project "remains a strong contender". Other potential candidates include a navalised variant of the Eurofighter EF2000, the Boeing F/A-18E/F, or even the carrier-capable Dassault Rafale, particularly should the JSF programme come unstuck.
While RAFGR7s have already been embarked on Invincible class carriers during recent exercises, the Joint Force 2000 initiative will take years to implement and bed down, and fundamental operational and training issues have not even begun to be addressed. It remains to be determined, for instance, whether aircrew will be cross-trained for air-to-air and air-to-surface operations.
In beginning to tackle these issues, the SDR states that a study team will be set up to examine "-closer integration and basing of the Harrier fleets, the opportunities for greater exchange of personnel, possible convergence between differing RN and RAF engineering trade structures, and the size and structure of the Joint Force 2000 headquarters and the timescale for putting it in place".
In terms of timescale, some senior RAF officers believe that it will take at least a decade to implement the Joint Force 2000 concept of operations.
In addition to the joint RAF/RN force to improve the UK's "maritime force projection capability", the SDR also includes several other initiatives designed to establish tri-service structures. "These include the creation of Joint Rapid Reaction Forces, which will build on the current Rapid Deployment Force and encompass all high-readiness forces," notes Johns, "and the formation of a Joint Helicopter Command, which will draw together all RN, Army and RAF battlefield helicopters."
The Joint Helicopter Command, the headquarters of which has yet to be determined, will pull together the RN's Westland Commandos, Army Air Corps Westland Lynxes, Aerospatiale Gazelles and GKN Westland Boeing WAH-64s (on service entry) along with the RAF's Boeing Chinooks, Aerospatiale Pumas, Westland Wessexes and EH Industries Merlin Mk3s (on service entry). Anti-submarine warfare (ASW), airborne early warning and search and rescue helicopter assets remain beyond the remit of the joint helicopter unit.
The command would be "responsible for training, standards, doctrinal development and support of operations". In meeting operational deployment requirements, it will "-draw on the equipment, personnel and expertise of the single services and be charged with providing the Joint Force Commander tailored packages of battlefield helicopters (from one or more services), support equipment and personnel".
As with the Joint Force 2000, a helicopter study team has been set up to progress the establishment of the Command. The 24 Airmobile Brigade will also form part of the Joint Helicopter Command, and will include two battalions of the Parachute Regiment.
While the RN has won the first of what will almost inevitably be numerous Treasury-led battles on the path to fielding two conventional carriers, it has had to surrender a follow-on purchase of up to 24 more Merlin ASW helicopters. To cover what would otherwise be a shortfall in providing ASW assets, some Lynx Mk3 helicopters are to be upgraded to the Lynx Mk8 standard.
The SDR also spells out pulling together RAF and Army ground-based air defence units under a joint organisation. A joint headquarters is to be established by 2002. Both RAF and Army units will eventually operate the Matra BAe Dynamics Rapier Field Standard C as the latter's B- Standard batteries are replaced by the C model.
The RAF's equipment programme has emerged almost unscathed, although the beyond visual range air-to-air missile for the EF2000 will not enter service until 2008. An initial in-service date of 2003-5 had been projected: the delay means that the RAF will purchase a large number of Raytheon AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles as an interim active radar-guided missile for the EF2000.
The RAF's Matra BAe Dynamics Storm Shadow stand-off missile and the GEC-Marconi Brimstone air-launched anti-armour weapon also emerged unscathed from the review.
The Airborne Stand-off Radar (ASTOR) programme is also identified by the SDR as a "key intelligence surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance project", although the conclusion of the selection process is thought to have slipped into 1999.
In attempting to address equipment shortfalls highlighted by offshore operational deployments, the SDR also flags up "significantly increased investment in logistics for the RAF", including "Harrier GR7 and Tornado GR1/4 deployment packs, additional support manpower, and engine and avionic packages".
In terms of an eventual Tornado GR4 replacement, the Future Offensive Air System, the Review notes:" There will be-an important requirement to replace in around 20 years' time the capability which are provided by the Tornado GR fleet."
As with the future carrier requirement, funding for this programme - should the preference be for a crewed aircraft - will inevitably be a contentious issue with the UK Treasury.
Source: Flight International
