The advantage of a joint force are the reduced cost of joint training and logistic support - 1 type instead of 2.
The second advantage which was offered by the F-35B was the ability to surge by reinforcing the Carrier force with RAF crews/aircraft as the SHAR force was reinforced by the GR3s in 82. The proposition being that carrier STOVL required limited additional training for a land based pilot. Purportedly the skills required for conventional cat & trap require continuous practice and the second advantage is no longer available.
The question therefore being does buying the F-35C as a part replacement for the GR4 force (the rest being UAV) still make commercial sense in view of the price or is there an alternate option available such as additional Tranche 3 Typhoon?
Last edited by ORAC; 26th Jan 2012 at 15:14.