C295 and Q400 are for countries with coastal type maritime operations - North Sea and the Channel Islands maybe but that big blue deep water ocean out west needs something a bit bigger. Perefect for Indonesia/Singapore/Phillipines but UK? It's not rocket science. And for the MMA naysayers, which airframe do you think you will be a be to (inevitably) add bits to over the years?
GPS sonobuoys expected to cost $800 each!
And how much was a CAMBS buoy then...?