Lone wolf,
I am not a MPA man, as you know. My thoughts about your idea about filling the P-8 shell with UK equipment are that it would probably not be worth it.
To start with, what equipment? The UK isn't building MPA at the moment, so there MAY not be equipment on the shelf to fill the airframe.
Next thing is the integration, testing and certification cost. I don't know, but wouldn't it be cheaper just to by the jet with the equipment already in it?
I understand the idea of making the expenditure more politically acceptable, but at the end of the day we have to ask whether the UK wants an MPA or not.
