The Govt still has to pay for it whichever way you spin it and the Govt are the ones who have us fighting on 2 fronts whilst cutting defence spending.
Maybe the only answer is SARH and effectively privatisation but the interim contract, seen by many as a trial run for the full event, has hardly been an overwhelming success - we still don't have the required level of cover in the Channel.
The MCA don't really understand helicopters and the variations of performance/capability so any future contractor must demonstrate integrity so that they are not guilty of pulling the wool over the customers eyes just to tick contractual boxes.
The trouble is that the present incumbent has already tripped over that hurdle and the remaining competitor is untried and untested in the field. Oh Dear!