Poland has managed to build credible forces on a relatively modest budget, including a fast jet force with three squadrons of Block 52+ F-16C/Ds augmented by Sukhoi Su-22s and MiG-29s

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: General Dynamics F-16A/C/E Fighting Falcon - СШАUSA - 1974

The RAF's innovative Jaguar upgrade was "a formative experience for a very young Squadron Leader," Edward Stringer says today, and yet not only has defence not adopted this example of smart procurement, what it did was to say: "We've been embarrassed and this must never happen again!"

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: SEPECAT Jaguar - InternationalInternational - 1969

Ed Stringer (as he was then known) walks away from Jaguar GR.Mk 1A XZ364 'Saddam' after another Granby combat mission. His assigned aircraft (with his name painted on the side) was XX962 'The Fat Slags'

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: SEPECAT Jaguar - InternationalInternational - 1969

A pair of Jaguars, XZ119 'Katrina Jane' nearest and XX725 'Johnny Fartpants' get airborne from Muharraq during Operation Granby. Stringer flew 29 sorties during Granby, totalling just over 46 hours.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: SEPECAT Jaguar - InternationalInternational - 1969

The capability gap following the withdrawal of the Nimrod reflected the lack of an over-arching authority over procurement decisions; the RAF, busy in Afghanistan and Iraq, prioritized the Chinook, and while an MPA was a vital piece of the tapestry that protects continuous at sea deterrent, the Navy accepted risk against that vital national capacity rather than giving money for an Air Force owned platform

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Boeing P-8 Poseidon - СШАUSA - 2009

Finland has managed to build powerful, well-balanced forces and has war plans to defeat a Russian invasion that has been war-gamed and that are costed, resourced and exercised. They have massive war stocks and realistic plans for replenishing those stockpiles in wartime. Here, an F/A-18 releases an AGM-158 JASSM

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet - СШАUSA - 1986

A pair of No.617 Squadron F-35Bs break from the tanker during an Operation Shader mission. Stringer notes that the former Bomber Command has now been reduced to a squadron's worth of F-35s, "And no one said: 'This is ludicrous, at what point do we stop being a serious air force?"

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Lockheed F-35B Lightning II - СШАUSA - 2008