Well the OSD of the R1 seems to have been mentioned in the RAF management plan as March 2011 so they had better get a move on.
Replacement due 2012 so no gap there then..... No chance of slipages either.
Wonder when it will be most politically prudent to announce the $1b American order.
As a small fallout, one of the organisations at Waddo that support the R1 mission system have been told to start run down. 20% of staff by next March, a further 50% by 2010 and rest by March 2011 from what I gather.