and the documentation saying that the Meteor has a GPS based INS is where?

Okay, there’s nothing specific to say it’s GPS-based (although that alone isn’t enough to be certain it doesn’t and Storm Shadow does, so there’s every possibility Meteor’s INS is GPS-based) but that makes sod-all difference with modern LRGs over this kind of range anyway.

Tax avoidance is not giving people money. It is avoiding giving people money. The clue is in the name.

Can I get on with arguing with John? Takes more effort, so it’s more rewarding.

Not paying your fair share towards the public services you are using is still taking money, hence why tax evasion is a crime. You’re playing semantics, but the net result is the same, you’re getting free crap one way or the other.

Don’t forget that NEZ is not only based on kinematic performance, but also on if the missile can get the job done in the endgame. These aspects include the warhead, seeker, proximity fuse, and ECCM functionality. In BVR missiles the ability to precisely know where the enemy is, where he’s heading, and you are is critical to setting up the intercept. The 120D’s GPS based INS and 2-way datalink are critical in this regard.

Which Meteor also has but I’d argue that knowing all those things only becomes important near the extremities of a missile’s intercept envelope, where a little bit of energy here and there can make a difference. And that’s where Meteor has the real advantage, the AIM-120D quotes 160km range but the Meteor actually has a plausible real world chance of making kills at those distances in actual combat against alert, non-submissive targets over a range of altitudes, whereas the AIM-120D doesn’t.

Aircraft carriers can be sensible investments for some nations — such as the United States. United Kingdom, or China — without necessarily being a sensible investment for Russia. And yes, the resources required to effectively protect aircraft carriers are certainly one of factors contributing to the cost-benefit analysis of owning and operating them.

France is another nation that might be better served by alternate solutions, e.g. long-range strike aircraft.

Indeed, when you look at things logically, Russia is so large that it stretches to their areas of interest anyway. It has no real need to project power overseas. But I wouldn’t make the same case for France.

What garbage do you refer? That the original Sky Flash (a modified AIM-7 like you´ve said, same with the italian Aspide ) was developed in order to answer severall British requirements including maintaining enginering skills at GEC, thats not in question, its described in detail on quite a number of publications. That this particular aam (and the Aspide) had quite a lot of American content that was under (then equivalent) ITAR laws, unlike their French counterparts, if thats what you are pointing, then you are correct.

Because you’re wrong in equating it to Meteor. The Skyflash was a tweaked AIM-7, the Meteor is clean sheet design and the difference in the level of development effort is massive. Almost 2 decades vs a few years.

ITAR – Yes exactly. The US could have placed restrictions on it anyway.

So, today, Tesco have stopped dealing with Unilever after they put their prices up following the drastic decline in the value of the pound. Our currency is now at its lowest relative value in over 150 years. Margins on food, John, are shockingly low. There is nowhere left to just absorb them.

Worth a thought the decline in the value of sterling. What it means is that the rest of the world has no confidence in our ability to do a good deal. But that’s ok, we have David Davis…

Oh dear me, no Pot Noodle.

Even the worst case, most pessimistic analysis, that looks at all the downsides minus any up sides, still puts our economy and deficit better than that of an independent Scotland, which would be 3% worse than that of Greece. And that analysis is based on no trade deal with Europe, just basic WTO arrangement, which seems unlikely.

Because the vast majority of the price of fuel is government duty, which you then pay VAT on too, but beyond that the cost of crude oil doesn’t affect the costs of refining, or transportation (much), or retail; the last time I checked I think the oil companies could retail petrol at about £0.15 per litre and still make a profit, except for tax and duty.

Yes but fuel was 90p/L after the 2008 crash and oil was still way more expensive then than it is now.