How are these aircraft employed?
Help out one of your American cousins. How are these aircraft used? Assigned to and flown by the RAF, but owned & maintained by a civilian contractor? Are they mainly for peace time missions; VIP, PAX movement, light cargo? I can see the economic sense in the concept if the aircraft are primarily employed in country, but if deployed during a military action, it seems the implementation not to mention the cost would be impracticle. I've had to deal with the whole contractor on the battlefield business during my time here in the sandbox, and it can be frustrating and problematic.