Details of UK Strategic Review emerging

Details of the UK's Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) are beginning to emerge. The key points regards military aviation are:

• RAF Harriers to be withdrawn next year


• RAF to operate a smaller number of Tornadoes


• Aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to operate helicopters for about 3 years from 2016, then be mothballed/sold


• Aircraft carrier HMS Price of Wales to be fitted with catapult and arrester gear


• Current fully operational carrier HMS Ark Royal will be scrapped


• Other carrier currently in inventory, HMS Illustrious will be withdrawn in 2014


• Royal Navy's F-35 JSFs, likely to be the carrier-capable F-35B version, to be operational in 2020