withdrawal of the long-range F-111 from service - which could have been cost-effectively enhanced for maritime strike
We already have a long range maritime strike platform - the AP-3C, and I do mean long range!! It does not need someone out there hours before to sort through the contacts and work out which one is the HVU, it can do it for its self.
As for cost effective, ha ha ha. The F111 was sucking an insane amount of cash for each and every flying hour. $100000+ per hour.
Just let the F111 die......