Can British defence cuts be blamed mainly on an over-greedy RAF?
Short answerNo single service plan proves that; services commonly ask for more than the minimum because budgets are negotiated through competing options.
NotesThe answer cautions against treating every proposed aircraft total as evidence that one service caused all cuts elsewhere. Armed services normally enter negotiations with an ambitious option, several intermediate packages, and a bare minimum. The capability they actually need may be placed just above the cheapest option so political leaders can feel they selected a prudent compromise. A large opening request is therefore evidence of institutional bargaining, not proof that the RAF alone caused unrelated naval reductions.