Could I request clarification of a point, please?
There seem to be two theories at work about how this effects the RAF's Typhoon purchase.
The first is that the Saudi order for 24 means that the RAF will receive 65 rather than 89 Tranche 2 aircraft, with the statement that the 24 'lost' airframes being replaced later on down the line being a nice bit of spin.
The second theory is that the contract means that it's impossible for the MoD to reduce the RAF's order in this way - that unless the 24 Tranche 2 airframes signed up for are replaced by others built later all sorts of contractual issues (e.g. over workshare) crop up.
Without straying into the realms of commerical-in-confidence, etc, does anyone know which is correct?