Originally Posted by
Easy Street
Your question “why is the public being deceived?” infers that the public is being deceived. Unless you can demonstrate that to be a fact, the question is rhetorical. I suggest there’s more chance of seeing Santa Claus than there is of seeing a MOD spokesperson going on record with “we’re deceiving the public about pilot manning to keep Defence off the news agenda” or similar.
Edited to add: your reference to Keynesian economics is wayyyyy out of left field. The Government has any number of better ways to stimulate the domestic economy than by spending on Defence, where much of the cash ends up overseas unless ‘buy British’ is enforced. Even then, the ‘British’ companies aren’t 100% British, and stand by for complaints about our forces not being allowed to have the best US/Israeli/other kit!
Which wouldn't be entirely accurate.
It's been said that the UK was offered F-22 in the 90's (reliable source), but the cost was astronomical and unjustifiable given our commitment to Typhoon at the time. Besides, it's not as if we need it now we have the F-35, which is just as good, if not better. It's on public record that President Reagan offered Maggie Thatcher the chance for the UK to invest in the F-117, but she turned it down because the existence of the jet was still classified at that time.
We also have Rivet Joint - one of America's most sensitive and strategically vital assets in their inventory. No other country has this. We stand more chance of being allowed to buy America's most sensitive kit than any other nation, but sadly every shopping list needs a budget.