UK considers Rafale and F-18 as 'interim aircraft'

UK considers Rafale and F-18 as ‘interim aircraft’

The Times/Defense management ; jan 26

Ministry of Defence concerns over the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter have led to military chiefs looking at other fast jets for the UK’s aircraft carrier, it has been reported.
According to The Times, Admiral Sir Trevor Soar, the current commander-in-chief fleet, said concerns were growing about rising costs and delays in the JSF programme, something now worsened by order cuts from the US.
Soar, who was addressing defence companies at the ADS Maritime Interest Group, reportedly said the UK might not receive the $100m per piece F-35 jets until a decade after the delivery of the carrier, currently set for 2019.
He was said to be considering the French Dassault Rafale and the US F-18 Super Hornet to give Britain an “interim aircraft capability”.
Soar indicated that the JSF would be a major talking point at the next strategic defence review in 2015.

http://www.defencemanagement.com/news_story.asp?id=18662

Well unlikely to happen but the rafale has the advantage of being compatible with the meteor and storm shadow.