C does have a probe, but not much on the A in terms of range. Although it carries more fuel, it is bigger, heavier, and draggier to the extent that it only has about a 10 n mile radius of operation advantage over the A.
Canada looked at the option of using land-based Cs instead of the As (again, on the premise that its increased range was safer for Arctic ops), and ultimately decided against it.
Also, MoD officials have publicly briefed on a potential A/B mix.
With more and more aircraft types being bought without probes (C17, RC135, maybe P8) perhaps the F35A might be the tipping point for the MOD getting some booms on the Voyagers.
Last edited by melmothtw; 5th Nov 2014 at 18:03.