You have to admit it is a master stroke by the Treasury.
At a stroke it avoids the need for a decision on a launch system, the choice of JSF or F18, or the choice between conventional and VTOL, and the financial penalties of cancellation.
The only wonder is that they don't sell her on the blocks. That way the country that might eventually buy it on the second hand market could actually get it cheap now, paying only the completion costs and not past costs and at the same time specify its prefered operation system.
Watch this space.
