An analysis by Jane’s found that the Royal Air Force will be left with just 127 front-line fighter aircraft once the Tornado and Tranche 1 Eurofighter jets are retired in 2019.
By UK Ministry of Defence [OGL], via Wikimedia Commons
The service is going to struggle to generate sorties for protecting British airspace, fulfilling its NATO commitment to help patrol Eastern Europe and conduct airstrikes in the Middle East.