....must be some reason ...? What would make VSO's want to support a huge private contract within the core of the RAF? Why would "thrusters" want to be involved with a shiny new project instead of getting VFM with an older one they already had? Why did the RAF a neglect a good asset and then have to spend £15Billion to replace it? Whatever the reason, IMO it is a deal that has cost large chunks of RAF capability.
OAP