The sop for sticking with the A400 will be the "early" retirement of the J - early 2020s.
Stopstart's crystal balls reckon that SDR will see sacking off of remaining K fleet forthwith, reduction in A400 buy + earlier retirement of J, reduction of AWACs fleet by at least 50%, canx RIVET JOINT and possible binning of MRA4. Would be nice to dispose of VC10 but we'd lose AAR capability. Leasing a couple of tanker spec C130Js off the Italians would fill the gap but I suspect our Lords and Masters will be too busy abusing themselves over the fabulous JSF brochure to look that deeply into it all....
