Since the conflict began, a squadron of 18 RAF Typhoon pilots has enforced the Libya no-fly zone from an air base in southern Italy. However, a shortage of qualified fighter pilots means the RAF may not have enough to replace all of them when the squadron has to rotate in a few weeks.
The situation is so serious that the RAF has halted the teaching of trainee Typhoon pilots so instructors can be drafted on to the front line, according to air force sources. The handful of pilots used for air shows will also be withdrawn from displays this summer.
The shortage has arisen because cuts to the defence budget over the past decade have limited the number of pilots who have been trained to fly the new Typhoon.
There are also fewer newly qualified pilots coming through after the RAF was forced to cut a quarter of its trainee places due to cuts announced in last year’s Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Can anyone explain why the UK is playing such a large part in this UN resolution anyway, when there are far bigger countries with better resources that are either scaling down their activity after the initial strikes (USA, for example) or not committing much in the way of manpower in the first place. Why does it always seem to be down to the UK to shoulder the main responsibility, we're hardly in the best shape ourselves financially, are we?

Can anyone explain why the UK is playing such a large part in this UN resolution anyway, when there are far bigger countries with better resources that are either scaling down their activity after the initial strikes (USA, for example) or not committing much in the way of manpower in the first place. Why does it always seem to be down to the UK to shoulder the main responsibility, we're hardly in the best shape ourselves financially, are we?

Can anyone explain why the UK is playing such a large part in this UN resolution anyway, when there are far bigger countries with better resources that are either scaling down their activity after the initial strikes (USA, for example) or not committing much in the way of manpower in the first place. Why does it always seem to be down to the UK to shoulder the main responsibility, we're hardly in the best shape ourselves financially, are we?

Can anyone explain why the UK is playing such a large part in this UN resolution anyway, when there are far bigger countries with better resources that are either scaling down their activity after the initial strikes (USA, for example) or not committing much in the way of manpower in the first place. Why does it always seem to be down to the UK to shoulder the main responsibility, we're hardly in the best shape ourselves financially, are we?

this needs a serious review and upgrading of the defence budget at this time ...

It's also time to consider whether we really can sustain, or even need, three separate parts to our defence forces.

It's also time to consider whether we really can sustain, or even need, three separate parts to our defence forces.

Anyone think we may have been hasty to sell of the aircraft carriers and scrap the harriers?

we are a small European state on the verge of mediocrity.