"
The crews of the US Rivet Joint spy planes masquerading as RAF aircraft will not even be totally British with US personnel expected to take control on some missions."
Does that include when we're tasked to fly missions against targets that the U.S. don't approve of ?
What is the staus of the crews should the aircraft be shot/forced down?
"
But that would cost more than £600m altogether whereas the cost of sharing the US Air Force’s Rivet Joint aircraft would be much cheaper in the short term."
Emphasis on short term . . . . how unusual, in this day and age, that the airships know the cost of everything and the value of nothing
"The “British” aircraft will be painted with RAF markings and flown by joint USAF/RAF crews. The first of the two aircraft could be loaned to the UK as early as next year."
See first two questions.
In addition, if we really are talking about early next year, one might suspect that discussions have been going on for a damn sight longer than as the "new-found solution" to the recent budget cuts might suggest
