An air force of my own #1
Reading about some of the over-priced nonsense the military buys is maddening – but could you make better choices? In the first of a series we burdened Justin Bronk with the daunting task of re-equipping the air arms of the United Kingdom. Would his notional air force be combat effective? Good value for money? Most importantly, would it be stylish?
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Air Force Procurement
Head of procurement: Justin Bronk
Occupation: Research Fellow for Combat Airpower, RUSI
Nation to defend: United Kingdom (pre-Brexit vote)
Year: 2016
Training
Glider trainer: DG-505 (50)
Basic trainer: PZL-130 Orlik (120)
Twin-engined prop trainer: Piaggio P.180M Avanti (30)
Jet/Turboprop/LIFT trainer: Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master (70)
Other: None
Tankers & Transport
Light tactical: Modernised Antonov An–2 Colt (20)
Medium: Airbus A400M Atlas (30)
Strategic transport: Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (9)
Short range CSAT: Agusta A109E (5)
Tanker: Airbus A330-MRTT Voyager (15)
Hack: de Havilland Tiger Moth (1 per flying squadron)
VVIP transport: One of the A330-MRTT’s as currently converted
Presidential Transport: N/A
Other: None
Combat
(specify chosen munitions)
Fighter: Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4, Tranche 3B, with ASRAAM, AMRAAM C7, Meteor, Paveway IV, Brimstone II, Storm Shadow, ALARM/AARGM, SPEAR 3. (230)
Attack: Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II, with SPEAR 3, AMRAAM C7, Paveway IV, GBU-24 Paveway III (80)
SEAD: F-35As as above with Typhoons carrying ALARM/AARGM and Storm Shadow in support (check out this thought-provoking article on why the F-35 will fail)
Heavy bomber: None
Fixed-wing gunship: AH-64E Apache Guardian (50) (I did say fixed-wing, but you’re the boss)
Other: None
Rotorcraft
Trainer: MD540F Advanced Little-Bird (100)
Light transport: None
Medium transport: Boeing Chinook Mk6 (60)
Heavy transport: Boeing Chinook Mk6 (60)
Attack: AH-64E Apache Guardian (50)
Search & rescue: V-22 Osprey (10)
Other: MD540F Fleet Optionally Equipped for Light Recon and Attack Duties
Intelligence & surveillance
AWACS/AEW: Saab Erieye-ER radar and mission system on large platform, e.g. A330 (6)
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR): RC-135 variants (~8)
Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR): MQ-9 Protector (12)
Battlefield surveillance: MQ-9 Protector (12)
Maritime Patrol: Kawasaki P-1 (10)
Reconnaissance: Eurofighter Typhoon with DB110 Pod (6)
Other: none
Display teams
Fixed-wing jet: Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 1 (9)
Fixed-wing propeller: None
Rotorcraft: MD540F (3)
Historical flight: BBMF, obviously
Other: None
Carrier aircraft
Source: aircraftresorcecenter.com
Fighter: Rafale M re-engined with EJ200s (40)
Attack: Rafale M re-engined with EJ200s (40)
Tanker: V-22 Osprey, noting that it can only offload 12,000lb so only for top-up overhead tanking
COD: V-22 Osprey (12)
Helicopters: MH-60S Knighthawk (25)
Other: None
Misc Aircraft category
Firefighter: None
Air ambulance: MD 902 Explorer (40)
Mountain rescue: MH-60S Knighthawk (10)
Police: MD 902 Explorer (60)
Others: None
Air force defence regiment
Camouflage: MTP
Standard weapon: H&K 416
Sidearm: Sig Sauer P226
Light support weapon: CETME Ameli
Heavy machine-gun: GMPG
Sniper rifle: Accuracy International AX338
Vehicles: Miscellaneous
Misc equipment: C-RAM
Our verdict
Cost effectiveness & sense
The two high-risk items that stand out are the re-engining of the Rafale and the creation of a new AWACS aircraft. Leaving aside the Mustang, British aviation historians may baulk at the idea of re-engining. The additional of British Spey engines to the Phantom, though not without some benefits, resulted in the most expensive and slowest F-4 (at least at high level). Rafales would make perfect sense for a British carrier re-equipped with ‘cats and traps’, (Eurofighter themselves have acknowledged a carrier-based Typhoon is a non-starter – as soon it is beefed up sufficiently it loses its main virtue its massive thrust-to-weight ratio and its very low wing loading), and though the use of the EJ200 would be welcome news to Rolls-Royce, the effort would be slow and expensive- it would also be a huge undertaking for the marginal improvements it would offer.
Though the dimensions of the two engines are very similar (the EJ200 is marginally longer) this may be an unnecessary effort. Generally Bronk has demonstrated a fair and cost effective procurement policy.
The vast rotary-wing force may be hard to justify during peacetime, though I guess the UK’s been on a war footing of some kind since 1990.
73/100
Political considerations
Collaborating with Ukraine on a new An-2 production line sends a strong message of support to the beleaguered nation. The export of Japanese military aircraft may involve some constitutional changes. Bronk’s armed forces remain closely tied to the US, but maintain strong ties to Europe thanks to the Rafale purchase.
70/100
Aesthetic appeal
Mr Bronk’s suggestions have been rooted in pragmatism rather than aesthetic appeal and he has not chosen the most exciting or beautiful aircraft. Still FAA Rafales would be gorgeous, Tiger Moths are elegant and the Kawasaki P-1 is pretty cute. Oh, wait 30 Avantis? That is actually pretty wonderful.
70/100
Realism
Bronk’s choice’s are a little too sensible for my taste, where is the Presidential An-225? The vast fleets of Beriev Be-200s? The MiG-31 display team?
80/100
Imagination
See above- he is no Dali, but to be fair we didn’t ask him to be.
50/100
Total score: 343/500
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Hush-Kit 
Couple of gaps that worry me. Where’s the carriers’ organic AEW? Also you need serious numbers of proper medium lift helos the Chinooks are too big. The RN needs c. 20 Merlin or equivalent for ASW and general liaison work, the RM 24 for the commando squadron(s) and the Army will want something similar to support 16 AAslt Brigade. And that’s before we talk about lights. How many Lynx equivalents for Army and RN?
Rest of it’s fine although I’d have more MPA’s and two dozen C-17s if possible.
I like that P-1. It looks like a 2/3 scale KC-135R.
I wouldn’t have picked the F35 myself as a attack aircraft. I would have gone for the latest Super Hornet and that be would have been my choice for SEAD too.
I once owned a Piaggio Avanti and let me tell you it was ugly is as ugly does. Mine looked nothing like the one in your pictures… I bought it in a light headed moment from a geezer in a shiny suit down the Goat and Compasses. The bloke did describe it as a bit of a ‘growler’ but by this time my addiction to creme de menthe was becoming a problem again and I mistook his euphemism for shite to mean it resembled a mid 60’s carrier based attack aircraft ( equally as ugly but of no matter when the beer goggles are on).
At first it was the dogs bollocks but then I came to realise that I’d purchased just a bit of a dog that had evidently been seen to by the vet. It sulked in the rain, wouldn’t start in the cold would baulk at third going up the high street, the ‘flight envelope’ was restricted to straight line maneouvers in the horizontal plane, any attempt to bank and turn in a tail chase would quite literally see you risking a severe AOT (arse over tit). Climb rate was borderline and any sudden increase in altitude ( going over the A20 flyover) required drastic load lightening using the GOP (get off and push, not the political illiterates party) thrust augmentation.
But never mind, it had svelte curves that were just gagging for Gina Lollabrigida or Audrey Hepburn’s arse to alight upon the faux leatherette… and the finish was a lovely shade of semi gloss green with a ‘brushed on with a B+Q nylon No.2′ texture that almost gave it a two tone camo look. This admittedly wouldn’t do much to deflect the rozzers radar lock on ( I was only doin’ 28 yer honour) but was ideal for low down in the weeds types of operations (I’m certain that this is where it ended up after its last owner had been laughed at once too often down the chippy on a Friday night). If you’re going to buy that Italian plastic i’d make sure it comes with a couple of spare engines… and oh and keep your bus pass handy.
I agree with all above excep the Ameli. Really?? The Ameli as SAW?? Please as a ex spanish infantryman only can say that a good use of the Ameli is using it like a stick for closeup combat, or as a chock for truck parking, wherever you want but please, dont equip your forces with Ameli if you love your boys in green