The tornado bulletin brought the Air Force attention from the public and local media.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

However, tornado forecasts were only available to Air Force weather offices and were still not issued by the Weather Bureau.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Indeed, in asking Tornado crews to bomb Libya while the force of these aircraft was being cut, or soldiers to patrol in Helmand when their regiments may be shrinking, the tension between austerity and trying to retain some kind of military role in an unstable world could hardly be starker.

BBC: Jubilees show UK's declining ability to protect itself

The result of the SDSR is likely to be a much smaller force, with the RAF expected to bear the brunt of cuts - perhaps retiring its Tornado fast jets earlier than planned, scrapping the Nimrod MRA4 and losing up to 7, 000 personnel.

BBC: Coalition's difficulties in defence