UK's P-8s 'under threat'?
Headline in the Mirror (a UK tabloid newspaper):
New RAF Poseidon spy planes "at the mercy" of Donald Trump over US deal with Boeing
The paper 'can reveal' that
Britain is relying on Donald Trump for new RAF spy planes to hunt Russian submarines lurking off the UK coast
The paper explains that this is because the UK chose to order the aircraft through the US 'foreign military sale' system rather than directly from Boeing, and it adds that the President Elect has already "clashed with" Boeing.
New RAF Poseidon spy planes "at the mercy" of Donald Trump over US deal with Boeing - Mirror Online
An MOD spokesperson said:
A foreign military sale with the US allows us to get the capability we need, in the timeline we want, while securing best value for the UK taxpayer. Backed by our £178 billion equipment plan, we will receive the first UK P-8A Poseidon before the end of the decade.
Any PPRuNErs able to suggest whether this is a serious problem or just tabloid headline-grabbing?
airsound