Quote StopStart,
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The modern RAF is more risk averse than a primary school road safety lesson; there is no way on earth anyone would want to sign off on yet another bodged-up update of a knackered old airframe nowadays."
Agree entirely, and it is far too late to do anything sensible that would extend the service life of the venerable Trimotor. The chance was missed twenty odd years ago to expand that fleet and invest a modest amount in a long term life program that could have given a good AT/AAR platform till 2025ish... it just trucks fuel/people or cargo for goodness sake, 2tonnes/hr less fuel burn is no basis for spending £13Billion
! No, in the great bunfight that seems to occupy all the days of our senior figures, the decision was made to ignore value for money and go all-out for a BIG spend. Well great! Look where it will get us, mega deals that provide few combat aircraft and, a transport capability that costs more than charter.
Would being efficient and not falling for the sales-pitch have saved enough to keep Harrier, YES. (Just my opinion
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OAP