Typhoon will excel both at shooting down other planes and at precision bombing and aerial reconnaissance.

ECONOMIST: Defence procurement

However, many US supporters of air power have called for precision bombing which would not be aimed directly against civilians but only military and industrial targets.

BBC: Analysis: US 'shock and awe' tactic

The MoD can still offer certain niche capabilities that foreign allies - principally the US - still value, but these can be counted on the fingers of one hand, including special forces, precision bombing, and minesweepers.

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

Italy's air force is not in the precision-bombing business.

ECONOMIST: Italian brothers in arms

But if the blunt instrument of bombing succeeds in this, it will owe as much to luck as to precision.

ECONOMIST: Stumbling into war | The