The plan describes Typhoon and F-35 aircraft as the core of Britain's integrated air and missile defence, supported by Voyager tankers and Wedgetail early-warning aircraft. Wedgetail's inclusion in the present tense is challenged because the aircraft are still described as completing fit-out and flight testing. Only three Wedgetails are planned in this account. Sky Sabre is praised as a capable CAMM-based defensive system, but its expansion is not considered a substitute for a wider area-air-defence capability. Available aircraft, future aircraft and the coverage of ground-based missiles therefore need to be distinguished when assessing the promised defence network.
Notable Point · 2:16:52-2:18:25
Sky Sabre expansion and future Wedgetails leave different air-defence limits
The air-defence description is tested against Wedgetail's delivery status and the limits of relying on Sky Sabre for broader missile coverage.