I'm just considering numbers. We are buying the joint F-35B wing to allow surge capability and reduce costs (plus no doubt the opportunity of a shore tour to maximise retention). With the reducing size of the RAF and the shrinking Tornado force vs Typhoon, what size additional but are we looking at, particularly if a "force" with a mix of manned platforms controlling UAV wingmen? One, maximum two, squadrons?
For this we would introduce a new type with reported only 10-20% airframe and spares commonality? Even accepting the idea is to solve the problem by sharing spare with the USAF wing at Lakenheath it seems weird - plus the cost of converting the tanker force.
Why not go the whole hog and base them as an integral part of the Lakenheath wing including USAF tanker support? But with long timeframes I am old enough to remember the fallout from the Skybolt cancellation. Not suggesting that the F-35A will be cancelled, but what if the USAF/USA relocated them back to the USA or Eastern Europe etc?
Seems extremely poorly explored and thought out. The route of more F-35B would seem lower risk, and the tanker force was scaled for more squadrons than we will have anyway.
Accepting the additional range and payload would be advantageous, it does seem ambitious as an idea and reflective of an age of a larger Air Force. Nowadays we have to cut out cloth to suit our purse.