RAF Fares Well in SDSR

摘要

Nine Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will be purchased by the RAF as part of the UK Government's National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) 2015. The first three are expected to be in service by 2020 and will be based at RAF Lossiemouth, Moray. The P-8As will also have an overland surveillance capability. Prime Minister David Cameron unveiled the plans in the House of Commons on November 23. The defence budget will be increased in real terms every year of the current Parliament and the SDSR lays out plans to spend £178 billion over the next decade on equipment and support. The plan also confirmed the UK's commitment to purchase 138 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft. The UK will accelerate deliveries in the early 2020s to enable 24 F-35Bs to operate from the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers by 2023 - it was previously planned to field just eight by that date. As a result a second F-35 squadron will be formed as part of Joint Force 2025.