Originally Posted by
Asturias56
Rereading the article it seems we're really cancelling the F-35's to pour money into BAe ( a "red-wall" company of course) - it's hard to believe that the Tempest will be ready in less than 10 years and then God knows what the cost per unit will be - and we may have had several changes of Govt by then so its long term prospects aren't brilliant. The RAF wil soldier on with Typhoon upgrades and perhaps the occasional small buy - again good for BAE but its a major cut in planned forces for sure
Of course recalling that BAE SYSTEMS has a large manufacturing and sales base in the US (and builds parts of the F35 in the UK).
Also, that ‘older’ designs, F15, 16, 18, are now seen as proven ‘bomb trucks’, which can be upgraded cost-effectively, to meet emergent threats. A much quicker threat response based on revised internal systems, than waiting for a new platform with the similar new systems.
Bring on Typhoon upgrades; we don't need to add an ‘X’ to the title to denote excellence, cf a part-taken but then missed opportunity with Tornados various.
Agility in defence procurement, potentially lower cost, and keeps UK manufacturing (that part which will pay off the debt) as a leading world supplier.