The Quest for Relevant Air Power

340 │ CONCLUSION
Table 7. Force reductions measured by flying frontline squadrons
and air force personnel
1991 a 2003 b
Flying
frontline
squadrons c Manpower d Flying
frontline
squadrons Manpower
FAF 28 92,900
16 64,000
(incl. 34,000 conscripts)
GAF ˜29 103,700
(incl. 30,800 conscripts)
17 67,500
(incl. 16,100 conscripts)
RNLAF 9 16,000
6 11,050
(incl. 3,500 conscripts)
SwAF 19 7,500
8 5,900
(incl. 5,500 conscripts)
(incl. 1,500 conscripts
and 1,600 active
reservists)
a
IISS, The Military Balance 1991–92 (London: Brassey’s for the IISS, 1991), 55, 57, 60, 67, 94.
b
IISS, The Military Balance 2003–4 (Oxford, England: Oxford University Press for the IISS, 2003),
39, 41, 43, 51, 80.
c
Data on flying frontline squadrons is relegated to fixed-wing fighter/fighter-bomber aircraft in the
air-to-air, air-to-ground, and reconnaissance roles. For the FAF, strategic and prestrategic nuclear
squadrons, which can also be used in a conventional role, are included.
d
Excluding reservists.
Table 8. Differential air power
1990 a 2000 b Beyond 2010
(new-generation
combat aircraft only)
Transport/
Combat
aircraft tanker
Combat
aircraft
Transport/
tanker
Combat
aircraft
UK 790 100 520 80 245 c 43 d
France 630 100 530 100 286 e 67 f
(West)
710 90 490 90 143 g 60 h
Transport/
tanker
Germany
Netherlands 230 - 157 4 85 i 7 j
Sweden 460 8 260 8 100 k 8 l
Total 2,820 298 1,957 282 859 185
1,320 m
(Europe
total)
301 n
(Europe
total)
United States 6,800 1,600 4,900 1,600 3,259 o 1,208 p
Note: The above data is based upon approximate figures and also includes naval and marine aviation.
While aircraft in store are included, jet trainers are excluded, apart from cases where they had
a dual training/combat role as in the case of Germany and Sweden in 1990. Transport aircraft below
the size of a C-160 Transall are excluded.