Strategic Strike?
What a laugh ... we have only one long range bomber in the RAF right now and that is the Lancaster.
An ancient Tornado lugging around a pair of StormShadows looks very impressive taking off from the UK, to plug into tanker after tanker after tanker to reach it's intended target in North Africa.
But...
... in a fast changing land battle what are you going to do with your heavy expensive StormShadow whiz-bangs if the target it was programmed to hit (when it was back on the ground in the UK) is no longer viable?
The long range patrol 'plane that was cut up was going to be able to re-programme the missile whilst in the area (before launch) - to accommodated changes in the fluid target situation. Provided it could safely get to the launch point, one of the few reasons left to still have 'fighters'.
Whether it was ever affordable of course is debatable - but it did highlight an area which needs to be addressed.
If we need a long range penetrating bomber then we'd better get on with it and stop pretending that we have one. Strapping missiles under a patrol 'plane is just as much a lash-up as hanging them off swing-wing wonder jets designed to blat targets in East Germany and expecting them to fly well beyond their intended range.
For what it's worth a patrol plane could probably bring back unused missiles to base. Probably not something a Tonka could do ... or would do ... with the press watching.
Time we all stopped bashing each others favourite sacred cows, easy and amusing though this can be, and realise that a range of platforms (aircraft, ships and boats) is required if we are going to be asked to do a range of strategic roles.
This thread is supposed to be about a Long Range Maritime Patrol aircraft, it is amusing to read so much from people who clearly have little idea of what that actually means.
good fun though ...
ping