USA wins again - Flight World Air Forces Directory
Thread Starter
USA wins again - Flight World Air Forces Directory
Last weeks annual round-up
Combat Aircraft
USA 2667
Russia 1616
China 1603
India 710
N Korea 572
USA comes top in every category - and astoundingly has 77% of the world's tanker fleet.............................
Combat Aircraft
USA 2667
Russia 1616
China 1603
India 710
N Korea 572
USA comes top in every category - and astoundingly has 77% of the world's tanker fleet.............................
We embrace the notion the Earth is a large place and you have to be able to get there in a timely fashion if you wish to influence events.
Hence a large aircraft fleet, Air Tankers, long range bomber aircraft, and lots of cargo transport capability.
Now If we would just use them more wisely....by keeping them home more.
Hence a large aircraft fleet, Air Tankers, long range bomber aircraft, and lots of cargo transport capability.
Now If we would just use them more wisely....by keeping them home more.
Thread Starter
IIRC its an even bigger mismatch if you look at spending - I think the USA spends more on defence than the next 5 or 6 on the list added together............
IIRC its an even bigger mismatch if you look at spending
Or do like the UK....reduce your force size to the minimum to guard the Queen and put on a Fly Past each year.
The United States....ranked first amongst the World's economies holds a 24.8% share contrasted by the UK's sixth place share of 3.17% share (France is seventh with 3.13%).
If we were to apply a constant percentage of GDP as a rule of thumb then it follows we would spend much more in real Dollars/Pounds Sterling on Defense.
In recent years NATO Member Nations have been reminded of their obligations to maintain each member's spending levels for Defense.....and we have seen NATO enjoying over 150 Billion Dollars increased spending.
It seems relying upon a "Whip Round" method for funding was not working.....and a polite reminder of the need for a budgeted method is required had to be undertaken to obtain compliance with Treaty Obligations by all.
If we were to apply a constant percentage of GDP as a rule of thumb then it follows we would spend much more in real Dollars/Pounds Sterling on Defense.
In recent years NATO Member Nations have been reminded of their obligations to maintain each member's spending levels for Defense.....and we have seen NATO enjoying over 150 Billion Dollars increased spending.
It seems relying upon a "Whip Round" method for funding was not working.....and a polite reminder of the need for a budgeted method is required had to be undertaken to obtain compliance with Treaty Obligations by all.
Thread Starter
A vanity project where as could have welded steel plate to bulk carriers per Max Hastings and saved billions.
Thread Starter
actually its almost as quick to give the tanker replacement contract to Boeing - and they're now scraping around for "private sector" support..
Well they have done it with the Royal Navy, 2 carriers and not enough escorts to protect them.
Not all but targeting a good proportion of them and it starts to become an issue.
There was a book 20 odd yrs ago that forecast doing that but that was by targeting the bases they stationed at.
Tankers are the ultimate force multiplier, remove or reduce them and it becomes something else to focus on. Eliminate tankers for a returning mission and potentially nobody going home.
There was a book 20 odd yrs ago that forecast doing that but that was by targeting the bases they stationed at.
Tankers are the ultimate force multiplier, remove or reduce them and it becomes something else to focus on. Eliminate tankers for a returning mission and potentially nobody going home.
