F3 said -
"Sometimes you get what you ask for... much of the problem lies with the Defence procurement and funding systems and an inability to set a requirement and stick to it!"
Which is fine, and i agree that the MOD and Defence procurement tend to inflate the specification as time goes on. But did BAE actually deliver to spec? All there appeared to be was an attitude of continually taking the easy option and a lack of any real commitment to the project. The complete lack of interest towards mission system testing in particular. How did we get into such a mess with the build quality of the aircraft? If PA4 had been built to spec and correctly i am sure it would have been at Kinloss and we wouldn't be reading this here now. Luckily the MAA guys were all over it; but uncovered a multitude of mistakes.
BAE
SHOULD hang their heads in shame, because it is they that have royally screwed this up.