I personally think that the future Defence plans of the United Kingdom are increasingly unclear. Putting the distant possibility of Scottish independence aside, there is still the question of the far more likely event of a Labour Victory at the polls in 2015. I this happens I don't care how middle of the road people think red ed will be, regardless of the coffers, he will undo the military from behind as usual. Defence capability will be seen as surplus if not actively engaged on some sort of mission like counter-insurgency or in support of a rebel faction somewhere or other.
It is from that moment that the future of the F35 programme, at whatever stage it will be, will come under a realistic threat of cancellation. Only I don't think we'll get a Healey alternative this time.
FB