Ignore the pros and cons of each variant for the moment, all very well covered again and again in this thread. As soon as one type appears to be gaining the ascendency, confidential sources start to spin for the other type. So what is going on?
1. There is complete confusion in the government about which is really the best military or economic version. They do not trust the information they are being given by their advisers (military or financial), as their advice seemingly conflicts.
2. This indecision means that when one type looks to be nosing ahead, it's detractors immediately start to spin against it, as they can see the opportunity to reverse the decision yet again.
3. Inter-service rivalry may well be part of the above mix - many on here are better judges than I as to how much this is the case.
4. It seems the choice is close run thing. If it was a no-brainer, then a choice should already have been made.
And the way out?
The root problem is that the government is being weak. It needs to determine what is it's absolute priority: military or financial. If it is financial then it makes it's choice on that basis - go the lower cost route. If it is military then go the route that gives the best military capability. At the moment the government is trying to mix and match both and that is causing the indecision. In normal times this is the normal situation. But these are very very abnormal times for the country's finances and it may be the unpalatable truth that money must hold complete sway over some military decisions, for the next few years at least.
It then has the problem of getting factual, unbiased advice as to the true military capabilities and the true financial comparisons. It seems that it cannot get either from within it's own military or financial experts so it should call on independent external sources if necessary (howls of protest expected, but if your own specialists won't stop fighting each other how else do you get impartial advice? If external advice is abhorrent, then make it redundant by stopping squabbling like children).
Above all the government must decide on it's objectives and then make the selection accordingly. And then you just have to get on with it, protests, objections, criticisms and everything else just comes with the territory. The government is being pushed and pulled around by every vested interest going at present and this weakness is causing harm on all fronts. The executive has the job of making the hard call. Make it and then go flat out to make it happen.
DC, you need to grow a couple.