Air power leaks leave Command Paper to tell old news
On air force issues, much of what is in the UK’s new Command Paper has previously been leaked to the media.
The UK MoD finally delivered part two of its Integrated Review on 22 March by publishing a Defence Command Paper complete with a breakdown of acquisition and equipment changes across air, land and sea.
From an air power perspective, leaked information about items such as the retirement of C-130J Hercules tactical transport aircraft and Tranche 1 Eurofighter Typhoons proved to be accurate, so too a report from The Times that revealed the UK’s E-7 Wedgetail AEW&C procurement would be cut from five to three platforms.
The Sunday Times also reported on 7 March that an order for an additional 90 F-35
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