Originally Posted by
Heathrow Harry
Beagle - that pass was sold decades ago................
As for the replacement if we go back to the OP quoting Janes " replacing rather than upgrading them might be the most cost-effective option" - note the MIGHT.
I suspect a straight request to upgrade would be throttled at birth by the Treasury so we start by building a campaign that the current airframes are very expensive to maintain (altho everyone else seems to manage OK), then we have to spec & cost a replacement
Oh My GOD!! The Co$t!!!!!!
but we can upgrade them for , well....... almost washers TBH... I mean - reluctantly, we'll accept second best in the National Interest etc etc etc
The cost for the E-3D CSP is, infact, rather more than £2bn and was approved by the Treasury in 2015. Furthermore, the purchase of a new airframe like a Wedgetail offers significant savings over 25 years. Smaller crew, smaller eng team and a much, much cheaper running cost. Crazy, but, it is actually cheaper to go out and get a new car sometimes!
USAF have the same issues with all of their E-3 variants, slightly disguised by the fact that they have a few more than the RAF does. FAF struggle too so, it’s actually a fleet wide issue.
NATO fair rather better with a superior spares and support package.