The key to understanding the why and wherefores’ is that this is capability sustainment and not purchase of a new capability or platform. We have what we need, we just need to keep it.
The current fleet is already in a state of managing progressively deeper levels of obsolescence that will no longer be supported sometime in the future.
The upgrade of the current fleet to the highest specification offsets future needs until 2040 and beyond. It was unfortunate that the original purchase of D model took 5 years to decide on then 5 years to introduce into service as we therefore lost 10 years use out of what we purchased; it is important that we learn from that and get upgrades earlier otherwise we will always lag behind and get lesser value for money each time a model reaches obsolescence.
It is also the case that future sustainment will cost significantly less by returning to as common a configuration as the US version. There has been a realisation that bespoke software does not come cheap. US Apache technology has moved on at pace compared to slow UK development due to cost. Their engines are better, data capability is better, overall mission systems are better etc. etc.
It is most likely the case that Boeing Defence UK already employs more personnel routinely involved in UK Apache than Westland’s does anyway. The establishment of a transient work force at Yeovil to remanufacture would presumably be delayed by the need to plan, establish and recruit for a new ‘production facility’; a cost and timeline that cannot be justified.
By upgrading and not buying a new platform there will be logistic and training economy, as a new type of platform would require new tooling and training across the board. Significant experience has been accrued with Apache, why change?
There will be enhancements that arrive by virtue of the upgrade that improve capability but at lesser cost than self-development. Why wouldn’t you accept what comes? It has a proven suite of weapons systems that are in parallel continuous development that do the job, why look for something else to integrate with attendant further costs?
It seems to me a no brainer! I am sure we will continue to debate the pros and cons but for once it seems the end user and taxpayer’s are getting VFM.
HEDP
Last edited by HEDP; 30th Aug 2015 at 11:19.