Long range strike was there for the asking with.. Nimrod MRA4
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...ormidable.html
And a bit of fun
Nimrod bomber
The idea of a large, flexible and efficient combat platform has bounced around for years
Wide body bomber, but the B-52 seems to go through more regenerations than Dr Who, 100 years of the BUFF? How much would they have saved by fitting more efficient engines the first time round?
As for B-1Bs, ISTR the RAF being offered 12 a couple of decades ago when the USAF were downsizing, it would have given great reach but at very high operating costs and it was not the multi mission platform that it has become over the last 20 years, still if money was no object!