Originally Posted by
SLXOwft
Lonewolf, at a cost of GBP110 million (USD140 million) they had just all had their centre wingboxes replaced when the decision to get rid of them was announced. Boosted the chance of selling them at a good price I suppose.
It is I believe straight saving money on running costs, especially on people, which IMHO has driven the focus on fewest possible types (not that rationalizing the number of types is a bad thing, if they can do the required jobs), the UK Treasury is clearly determined defence spending should rise above 41st place in the defence expenditure as a % of GDP league table.
Ah, makes sense, thank you! Reminds me of the US Army doing the sundown of the OH-58D. The savings in manpower billets was, if memory serves, a significant aspect of that decision.
(The US is 16th in SIPRI's GDP list of countries for which they have 2021 data).
Interesting tid bit there.