At a guess, the AAC is cheaper to run than one Puma det to Morocco and it is still seen as value for money.
We currently make up about 1.9% of Army strength. Post 2020 we'll be about 2.4% of the strength so in real terms, we're still growing
And the AAC accounts for somewhere in the region of half of the Army's operational budget. So do you still think that given the relatively small size of the AAC (based on your figures) that taking up half the budget represents good value?
I'd love to know where the sheer venom and bile that comes from many elements of the Army towards the other service comes from. Given your parochialism and general lack of corporate knowledge of anything outside your own Regiments let alone Arms and Services (that comment from an Army instructor at Shriv) suggests it can't be based on a proper understanding or experience of working with the other services.