The problem with an interim aircraft is that it goes against the current policy of reducing the UK airwings to a 2 Types (RAF with Typhoon and F35C and FAA with F35C), therefore reducing the support and Logistics tail.
In Interim aircraft means 3 types… Typhoon, F35C and SHornet/Rafale. OK so SHornet/Rafale would be replaced by F35C, but in infrastructure and logistics terms all three types would require support. That would be no better than Tornado Typhoon and Harrier as the 3 Jet types.
Would it not be a better idea to look at Typhoon with a buy of new build SHornet/Rafale with a view to bouncing them off Carriers for a good 15 years, with a longer term commitment to F35C at an Block3/Tranche3 type time frame where the airframe has matured and we are buying the aircraft at it’s best, rather than block1/tranch1, which if other new aircraft is anything to go by, will only has limited capabilities and weapons clearances.
This way, the infrastructure for F35 goes on hold for 10 years with current funding going to the infrastructure for the SHornet/Rafale. When it comes time for the F35 infrastructure to begin, it can be based on experience gained from the early block users, which in itself could save money in the future.
Over the period of the 15 years or so, the SHornet/Rafales will rotate through the RAF and FAA, to ensure that the level of carrier “wear and tear” is equal across the fleet. 15 years time I’m sure there will be a market looking for a relatively cheap relatively low wear (for a carrier type) aircraft that could operate from land quite happily for another 10 years or more.
As for which type, As much as I would like to say Rafale … if for no other reason than not needing US permission to sell on later. I suspect that the RAF would be happier with the SHornet, and ultimately so would the FAA.
But then perhaps I’m being overly simplistic.
Sign In
