Ok, so we get enough Dave's to carry out the mission.
We develop our own new air carried bucket of sunshine.
We end up in the terrible unthinkable position of having to use it at say........
Manila, ( who knows what the world will bring) any other number of nations could have been chosen but that was picked at random.
So, do we sail the PoW or the Tin Lizzie all the way out there to be in reasonable striking range or do we overfly a whole load of other countries carrying said sunshine?
This Credible deterrent - not worth the paper it's written on.
And in reply to your question ThinkTanker, what about the 177 that was rolled into the ditch? What about the accidents all throughout the deterrence history of the RAF with specials.
You have three options - replace Trident, modify the Astute and develop either a new TLAM-N or fit an ICBM into it, or third option is to develop a new air weapon and hopefully have a Dave to hang it off.
I hate the damn things, but I know I am glad we have the bomber.
The whole point of deterrance is to say, it is always there, always safe and always available.
This spurious argument over funding is a red herring, how about we sort out welfare, and the billions wasted in business welfare rather than giving the other budgets more of a kicking.
The shiny arses at Westminster need to decide on national priorities and fund accordingly, and if they are going to keep sending the troops out then they have to pay for it properly.
A maritime nation with 19 FF/DD, no MPA and Gordys vote winners still not finished and no jets for them........
We should have just bought the designs for the Ford class from Chinese hackers and built one of them and fitted it with Rhino's
One more thing- where would we home base the new bombs and their jets, coz Pompey won't have them in the yard when either of the ships are home....
Can't store them at Guzz as there is no way to get them into the air and onto the carrier, and the carrier won't fit all the way up to Ernesettle......
No point storing the bombs at Coulport......
So you need all those dispersed air bases that are basing Dave to be upgraded and equipped to carry the bombs, properly dispersed.
Your plan, sir, is laughable......