Wader
you are so right, but that would depend upon defence knowing exactly how many ac we were going to deploy at any one time AND THEN STICKING TO IT!!!!!!. Bloke in pub told me there were HUGE issues with the company and customer interpretations over 'plug and play' fitting of DAS components. Company thought it meant it was theoretically possible to fit DAS to an ac, customers wanted the ability to fit in 2 hours or so.
I wonder who one that argument... Not in the contract, gentlemen, but of course we can make it happen, just £50M per aircraft please!
LO - not heretical, perfectly sensible to leave decision to a later point as long as we temper what we intend to do with the aircraft vased on its capability when it arrives.