Find it hard to accept that Jacko so easily dismisses R&D from the cost argument when it is such a major issue in the debate of off-the-shelf versus home-grown.
However, I do know that in my time we procured two really effective fast jets for the RAF outside the normal procurement system as a reaction to the cancellation of TSR2 (another procurement own goal?) and the Phantom and Buccaneer both proved extraordinarily successful.
So why do we bother with an MOD procurement system - what we really need is a few smart buyers and politicians who let them get on with it.