MOD may well have paid
Vascodegama,
I do not know the history of ESF, but I would guess that that if ESF was "standard" MOD could well have paid to take it out. It was alleged that MOD had paid extra to have the standard fit radios taken out of the "plebs" staff cars in the 80s, and from first hand experience I remember that a "bright" contracting officer decided to save money by not fitting the rear speakers in the senior ranks staff cars - given that the VSP normally sat in the back this "incorrect" decision had to be put right by paying a lot extra to retrofit them - plus ca change plus c'est la meme chose - as we still see every day of the week with this and indeed previous governments!