Originally Posted by
SLXOwft
The timeframe indicated by PUS is "late '20s", no doubt the actual dates will be heavily influenced by the additional affordability concerns of beancounters in the House of Darkness (HMT) following the effects on the economy of Covid and Brexit. The SDSR/IR cycle might also have an effect with the next one due in 2025 or 2026. Also we may well have a different party in government at the end of 2024.
My favourite Lovegrove quote from this session is, "I have obviously become a fully naturalised Whitehall citizen, because I have been accused of being Sir Humphrey twice in the first hour."
I think he's trying hard not to preempt the IR and the outcome of combat air studies. I suspect the four years he's referring to is the existing approved budget for the 48, which runs to delivery of the last one in 2025.
If the IR or combat air studies change posture, then that's when they'll order any additional.