Britain plans to buy the first three F35's
 

I believe that the Minister said that "We WILL BUY 3", not that 'we HAVE BOUGHT 3".

I would hope that from the money invested we WILL BUY a shedload more than 3, otherwise this is a very expensive test exercise.

Edited for my idiocy...

Nope Finnpog, they have been ordered today. These are the three IOT&E jets due for purchase by late February, and while they don't commit us to buying any more, a £2 billion-plus investment overall would tend to suggest that more will follow!

UK signs for first three F-35B Joint Strike Fighters

Three is the lot to be ordered for now. The rest aren't scheduled to be ordered until after 2012-14.

One for the RAF, one for the NSW and one for Boscombe to play with?:p

....or one for Queen Elizabeth, one for Prince of Wales, and one for the RAF ;)

Britain plans to buy the first three F35's

...and the rest on tick! :rolleyes:

Thanks for the clarification sprucemoose.

I don't wish to descend directly into the 'all politicians are liars' type post - it is just a hefty dose of cynicism that I currently hold (and a cynic is only an optimist with experience under their belt).

Did we order 12 Type 45 destroyers - or did we say 12 and then dilute that down?

I can foresee a pretty pickle surrounding the F35 that is different to the 'Phoon - as being principle partners in the project I doubt that the UK will be allowed to sell our quota on to other folks as we have seen recently with the Typhoon's to Saudu in order to ease the cashflow problems.

Will a Naval Officer ever fly in one....?

"Did we order 12 Type 45 destroyers - or did we say 12 and then dilute that down?"

From a very early stage the phrase used was "up to" 12. Just as the JSF uptake is "up to" 150. Clever because in reality all it means is that you'll buy somewhere between one unit and the maximum figure cited. And the "up to" bit tends to get overlooked when reported in the media.

With the way CAS and ACAS are handling the top of the shop you have to ask.....will the RAF ever fly in one?

Strong buzz in the MoD at the moment is that either Torpy or Anderson will resign next week.

Never mind who flys them, NEVER fly the Mark 1 of anything :=