Paul J. Adam wrote:
In message , Ed Rasimus
writes
On Mon, 9 Mar 2009 07:30:21 -0700 (PDT), hcobb
wrote:
What potentially hostile powers can put jet fighters within range of
the population centers of UK

For the UK, the unification of Europe has reduced the threat greatly,
but the logical extension of that reasoning is that UK needs no
defenses at all now.

There's also the point that we find ourselves operating away from home
rather often these days, and thus rather closer to potentially or
actually hostile air arms.

That implies Britain needs the ability to construct army, navy and
airforce bases quickly anywhere in the world. Living in tents 5
years after the war started is a bad idea. Runways and piers have
to appear within days.

The logistical load needs minimizing, so actions like saving
transported oil by heating water using solar power in hot
countries. Generating electricity by wind turbines.

Andrew Swallow