Low ObservableHaving talked to a couple of people who think they have something to offer, my sense is that if there is an AoA, it is a classic black box. You can put data in and there are not many questions being asked in return, and there's no clue as to the internal logic (for instance, how is MPA being tied to the Sentinel or AWACS long-term missions?). Since the basic requirements could very easily be arranged to eliminate one or more of the potential candidates, this is not encouraging.
To return the topic to the original focus for a moment, what are the options?
Obviously we know there is the P-8 (expensive); P1 (would Japan export, and sort of fits into the "if it looks right, it will fly right" failing of MRA4); CASA 295 (slow); after that we are into the land of conjecture, R&D costs and therefore risk, aren't we? If money was no object (huge problem for the UK even before the Scots cease to be British "tomorrow") then surely the best solution would be the Boeing 737 based P-8 MMA to do Maritime ISTAR and Attack as well as Land ISTAR with Boeing 737 based AEW to replace Sentry? Single airframe type should = savings in support, logistics and potentially training? Is there another single
airframe out there that offers this?