Mr C H, I suspect the Jag guys would disagree strongly with your phrase 'non-combatant aircraft', Jag is retired from Operational Flying at the end of the month, till then it is operational. So how would you maintain the skill set of the 16 or so highly capable single seat mud moving and recce specialists? Perhaps a trip in a sim every now and again?
Not only shabby but I suspect wholly dishonest with the claim of a paltry £1m saving over 6 months. Still got to pay pilots, groundcrew/support staff. Still got to get the guys in the air to maintain some degree of currency, Coningsby real estate still has to be paid for, what spares there are for the aircraft will still have to be paid for, how much will that cost?
Cost of everything, value of nothing