Winco
All that you say is true; however, there is one missing fact. Mr Boeing and Mr Airbus will recoup his extra costs over the production run of the ac. If Mr Boeing and Mr Airbus does nothing, he might not sell any more ac, he goes out of business. The Ministry cannot recoup costs and therefore a cost benefit analysis will establish that 2 bomb bay fires over 36 years will justify the non inclusion of fire suppression. Had the first one not occurred in the circuit at St Mawgan, they too might have had an unfortunate end.
Like it or like it not that is how we build military ac. Change the spec and BAES will charge the earth and the costs will have to come from somewhere within the defence budget because this government does not see defence as a priority.
Its not called penny pinching, it's called affordability.
The Nimrod is not Typhoon, therefore is not a priority.
Don't get me wrong, I am in your gang, but alas MOD PE, DPA, DE & S or whatever they chose to call themselves this week, are not.