Originally Posted by
West Coast
Yup, look past the significant speed advantage, the significant range advantage, the payload advantage, the ability to self deploy, the ability for sustained shipboard operations, etc and you nailed it.
All true - but very very expensive.
1) We don't have a lot of money at the end of the defence budget after all the fancy toys have been bought, so can only afford a few grunts
2) As we have so few we have to make sure we can deploy them where needed ASAP
3) It cost a lot to have a fancy flying 3 ton truck to deploy them
4) Return to 1