Originally Posted by
Clockwork Mouse
Non-military tasks. Littoral commerce surveillance and policing. Coordination of and assistance with Short Range search and rescue tasks.
Logically these tasks would be carried out by civilian Coastguard/Border Agency aircraft. The military could meet these tasks but it would not be economical for them to do so.
The last statement is not necessarily correct. It depends on the level of tasking and the exactness of procurement of assets to tasks. Suppose the Coastguard tasking did not require all its assets to be used all the time and similarly the military requirement was less than continuous then you would have spare capacity on both. Equally if a surge was required either might find itself short of assets.
A single force capable of both roles is potentially more economical.