In these days of financial constraint, the requirements of a replacement aircraft to meet a specified military capability will be ignored by the bean counters and we will be given a completely inadequate sum of cash to meet only part of the requirement. Once we have the compromise in service then we will not have the ability to achieve our operational tasks effeciently which will undoubtedly lead indirectly to loss of lives on the ground.
No matter what is said about suitable aircraft both in this forum or within the appropriate IPT, we will not get what we need when we need it unless the Treasury has a change of heart, and that is not likely to happen for at least 3 years unless we are very fortunate.