"Put decent power by the hour and "hole in the wall" support contracts in place that demand very high availability rates, with in built surge allowances and contracts that allow the companies providing the service to make a decent profit. Then watch availability and sustanability rates surge!"
Yeah, right. It might work in some areas where there are potentially competing suppliers, or with a nationalised industry operating in a command economy but it will not work where the only viable option is to hand over the support contract to an entirely monopolistic Design Authority whose sole interest is in maximising short term shareholder value.
Especially when that DA is BAE, whose record on providing support, upgrades, etc. has been quite so lamentable.
As usual, inappropriate civvy accountancy procedures are being applied.
The services have thoroughly amortised bases, infrastructure and facilities, and the spares we're speaking of have often been bought and paid for.