N-a-B
As far as your direct question goes, there is a budget for CASD and one for the AF overall in the EPP. While no-one likes everything that's in it (or rather not in it), I'd suggest that it is at least a costed plan, with some credibility.
Fine, N-a-B. But you've still not answered the question of "how small a conventional force are you prepared to tolerate to have CASD Trident?" It's a fair question, as asked by LO.
ORAC wrote
Estimates of the one-0ff costs of replacing Trident range around £20bn.
The MoD continues to use a capital cost figure of £15-20bn
in 2005/6 prices. Inflated to today's prices, and with an allowance for the historical cost overruns of UK submarines, you come to a cap of £33bn today. It's not the through life costs that are that high (c.£2-3bn a year), but the capital spending is compressed into 2018-32, where like SSBN(X), it eats everyone's else lunch.
And since no-one is going to increase defence spending (or even commit to keeping it at 2%), then you've got to make choices.
Roland Pulfrew
1. F-35C is the carrier variant and is probe and drogue refuelled so no need to add the cost of converting Voyager to boom refuelling, which is just as well as
It's not required, but it is in there to enhance overall conventional force projection, especially in NATO Europe. The role in the nuclear mission is to keep RIVET JOINT on station at range.
[/Quote]2. You have understimated the costs for providing a new long-range MPA. Once training systems, additional new build facilities, maintenance and crews for your MPA you would need to at least double your costs, and maybe treble them. Particularly if you wanted the UK to remain a 1st world player in the ASW/ASuW business.[/Quote]
Indeed, it is the capital costs, as it says. Without access to the MoD LTCs, this was always going to be hard, so there are over-estimates in there too - e.g., assuming UK B61-12 production is *twice* the unit cost of the US, no savings from cancelling Crowsnest, £1bn to reinstate nuclear C2 amongst others.
Biggus: Yes, they did all see it, and support the conclusions. These were their reasons why.
Thanks to all!