F-35 Cancelled, then what ?
Nice to get back to the topic.
Since the UK is making the back end of every F-35 then UKplc would lose a stack of work/jobs.
Since Rolls are providing every lift system for any B variants then work/jobs (not all in UK) would again take a hit.
As to our armed services position following cancellation they will in the end have to have something else.
What that something else should or will be is going to depend on several factors namely our economic situation, our party political pushing and shoving, our disgraceful inter service rivalry and last (and very much least - sad to say) what jobs our armed services might have to do in the next 25 years.
All the above is bloody obvious but still seems to be ignored by some. If one does accept the above then it is quite impossible at this stage to predict what will happen in the short term because until the F-35 IS cancelled it is all hypothetical and the true position of the various parties will never become clear.
However that does not stop US here having a ball discussing the operational needs of the UK in isolation.
Assuming our Typhoon force can look after our air defence needs at home, my view is that the support of any deployed troops does not need stealth or supersonics but significant numbers of high subsonic and ultra reliable jets that normally only need replenishment not maintenance for say 10-15 sorties. Plus they should have good operating site flexibility.
I do realise such aircaft would be seen as so old fashioned and un-sexy that they will never happen. But that does not mean the notion is wrong.
Hey ho.