Cutting fleet of RAF aircraft 'probably worst decision since end of WW2'

The role of the C-130J Hercules will be taken over by the Atlas A400M aircraft by the end of next month, but leaked documents reveal two-thirds of the newer fleet were listed as unavailable for missions in early May.

An RAF source said ditching the "backbone" of the UK's transport fleet by selling the C-130s is "probably one of the worst decisions made in the post-World War 2 era".

#atlasa400m #C-130Jhercules #benwallace

[CanonTogger]

And we still don’t have an early warning aircraft. The mod ordered 5 radars for the new 5 E-7 Wedgetails … but now they are going to only get 3 in total. That would leave 1 in operation, 1 training and 1 in the workshop with 2 radars sitting doing nothing. The RAF is a shell of what it use to be .. it’s a joke .. a laughing stock

[deanfirnatine]

"Cutting costs" should be illegal for the military right now, we are facing a possible world war, this penny pinching is criminally insane!

[bigmanDOTS]

C130 a very reliable valuable plane ever proven over many years….not surprising Australia is buying 24 more of the extended versions plus rapid dragons and hi-mars giving its fleet a new dimension!

[steveh]

Germany a main 400 operator. Is buying new C130 from US. So are Norway and many other military. Wallace is a yes man. He said he would fight to get funding! Same with useless Ajax and Carriers. He is after the NATO Job

[markmcsharr]

Russia is using tanks from ww2 and it may be depleting are weapons but the point is it has a use we need to keep are military assets for a time while the threat of a bigger war is still in the air its crazy at this time.

[reeling-in]

We can rely on the Irish Airforce to help us out! 🤣😂🤣😂

[billybobkingston]

I hope The Irish Defence Force buy one

[raywhitehead]

Great report. That A400 is a turkey, 2/3 unflyable is a British National Concern. Should be a top news story.

[huttonmr]

"A senior US general has privately told Defence Secretary Ben Wallace the British Army is no longer regarded as a top-level fighting force, defence sources have revealed." Sky News reporting January 30, 2023.

[martinmosdell]

This is a disgrace, we should be investing in the military instead.

[johncoltman]

The Armed Forces are significantly underfunded, the Navy is decommissioning warships because they can’t afford to run them. The C130’s are being sold because the RAF doesn’t have the budget to run them. RAF transport capability is way too small for this governments stated mission of expeditionary warfare. This government has gutted the military, mainly the Army, since 2010. We cannot even field an effective brigade into Europe. The reason the government gets away with this is because the opposition parties would do the same in power, hence the roaring silence. Better hope we don’t have to fight a war, we are far from ready.

[jimgreene]

tory govt cuts military - why act shocked all they ever do FFS ?

[PiperStart]

The C130 is still the best cargo plane available.

[Knight]

Yeah the British Hercules fleet has been run into the ground

[aurockscastillo]

Oh it's the chicken hawk reporter

[Peter-oroc]

With what's happening wright now in Ukraine as well as other parts of the world to lessen our capabilities is kind boggling we need all hands on deck we need to upgrade our capabilities no degrade them we are an island we need more planes and ships to be able to transport all our assets in quick time to where ever they are needed it's like docking at a harbour then pulling the gangway away and telling people to jump ashore it's ridiculous it really is

[NealyLL]

We are a very weak, and delusional, collection of nations .
Sad sad.

Remember the nimrod decision.
Who was that again???

[danbatesy]

Well the government has to fill their pockets somehow and also to replace the 7million a day for the immigrants to live comfortably in their warm rooms with their belly’s full.

[californiadreamin]

The Hercules could be mothballed, like the Chipmunk for Charles Windsor.

[newage]

C130j`s being scrapped and so are all the personnel that maintain them, it`s not just about air frames.