COTS = USA
I'm tasting willow in the back of my throat.
They already have too much power and influence over Little Britain.
THAT's one of the main reasons I back BAE. Inevitably they're influenced too, especially with ITAR, but 'we' are still capable of joining with European aerospace companies to go it without being controlled by Washington to the same extent.
However, the politicians would never allow that . . . they've rolled over again and are taking it up the bottom (probably reminiscent of 'old school days' what?)
"We must have a special relationship at all costs" . . . and boy does it.