READINESS (OR LACK THEREOF): One-Third of Britain’s Air Force Can’t Fly.

“Figures unearthed by freedom of information campaigners show 142 of 434 of the air force’s planes have been sidelined,” said the British tabloid Daily Mirror .

Some planes and helicopters have been mothballed, while others are down for major maintenance. The problem spans numerous models, including the Royal Air Force’s flagship fighter, the Eurofighter Typhoon.

“Military top brass revealed 55 of the 156 Typhoon jets are in the RAF’s ‘sustainment fleet’ – and not in its ‘forward fleet’ ready to be deployed on operations,” the Mirror said. Even aircraft in the forward fleet, which should be available for operations, are down as “short-term unserviceable aircraft.”

In addition to the Typhoons, “five out of 20 Atlas A400M transport planes are in the sustainment fleet – despite the first of its type only being delivered in 2014,” said the Mirror.

Almost half of the RAF’s jet trainers are down. “Some 44 of 81 Hawk T1 jets – used by trainee fast jet pilots and the world famous Red Arrows [RAF aerobatics team] – are in storage or maintenance,” the Mirror said.

Glenn commented earlier about the USS Fitzgerald probe that “this is what a Third World navy looks like.”. Well, the RAF as a whole is looking more like a Third World military. Poorer nations are notorious for buying lots of shiny new equipment, which looks intimidating on parade, but then can’t afford the training, maintenance, and spares which turn men and equipment into an actual fighting force.