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

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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