Roland,
NO involvement on the MoD side I can assure you, and no direct involvement with the consortium.
27 years? The contract is pretty clear;
"London, 27th March 2008 - AirTanker and its Shareholders (Cobham, EADS, Rolls-Royce, Thales UK and VT Group) have TODAY signed a 27-year contract with the UK Ministry of Defence for the provision of an advanced Air to Air Refuelling and Air Transport capability for the Royal Air Force"
Squirel 41,
The £2.5bn is direct funding raised by the consortium, the £13bn is the amount the MoD will pay over the 27 year life of the contract for the provision of the service. They only pay for it when it is being used by the RAF on an as and when basis.
Of course, the fact that this is off balance sheet debt for the Government is only a MINOR consideration.....................