News from 1944

Fresh statistics show massive US air superiority over EU, says EU Observer, with the odd tone of unfamiliar detachment, as though the European states’ negligence in not maintaining its military capacity is somehow a surprise and the problem is likely that other nations not doing the same. What’s even sadder is that it’s drawing pointed comparison with their sole defender in the world, not to anyone potentially hostile to them.

The numbers, published by the Brussels-based Eurocontrol on Wednesday (12 October), note that the US has a total of 13,195 military and paramilitary air vehicles compared to 8,111 in the 27 EU countries combined. The EU's top air powers - France (1,339), the UK (1,296), Germany (1,096) and Italy (901) - come nowhere near.