Is it sensible for the UK to be buying planes now? I ask this as in my understanding, any planes purchased now will have to be returned to LM to have the spars that crack replaced, to say nothing of the software updates etc. The UK has funded LM for some of the development as a Tier 1 partner, could the UK not simply lease some planes from LM till fit for as previously promised war fighting planes started coming off the line?
This way the UK implicitly pays less per plane, not LRIP rates, it also does not take on the contingent liability that the LRIP planes carry as they have to be updated etc.
Just a thought...