Chaps
Many thanks for comments on my post 4744.
First may I say I have no insider info from either side of the pond and what I say is just based on my interpretation of the past and my guess of the future using what is my version of common sense.
In my time development included quite a lot of aerodynamic changes. Today such things are less likely to be necessary. However what is totally different now is the role equipment fit side of life – both hardware and software. This applies to both development stages and throughout service life.
Re the point Melmothtw makes about the Apache pains I suspect that a lot of very much brighter people than me are fully aware of such issues and are finding ways of alleviating the problem. Future proofing can be real not just a buzzword.
The quote that MOD have an OSD of 2048 strikes me as so unlikely to happen that I would bet my house on it!
Re Hempy's point about the need to start planning for a successor earlier than my comment he is of course right.
The sixth is where serious plans for its replacement have started.
I should have said something like
The sixth is where work on its its replacement is looking good.