Isn’t it possible that we’re going to buy both versions?

Again, isn’t the whole idea to rationalise defence that we’re looking to cut down on the different types of aircraft in the fleet and not add more maintenance costs as a result?

Not at all sure UK paid that money. But wait and see. UK STOVL is dead and good too

So you would rather believe the Evening Standard than the US DoD website official news release?
http://www.defense.gov/contracts/contract.aspx?contractid=4382

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Ft. Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $13,035,539 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract (N00019-02-C-3002) to incorporate the shipborne rolling vertical landing capability into the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter for the United Kingdom. Work will be performed at Fort Worth, Texas (54 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (35 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (7 percent); and Orlando, Fla. (4 percent). Work is expected to be completed in October 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

Look i’d love F35C too ahead of the B version, but you need to look at facts when they hit you in the face er, Ironduke 😉

David Cameron ‘rules out slash and burn defence cuts’
Robert Fox and Martin Bentham
08.10.10

David Cameron has intervened to prevent “slash and burn” cuts to the Armed Forces after holding a private meeting with defence chiefs

“…Plans to use vertical take-off aircraft on the carriers have been abandoned, however, and cheaper jets that take off and land by using a catapult and wire will be used instead. The second carrier might also be converted from its conventional use to operate as a “floating platform” for commandos.

The Navy is also expected to be allowed to buy new frigates for 2020, and the Royal Marines will be retained instead of being merged with the Army’s Paratroop Regiment, as some reports had suggested. However, the helicopter budget is expected to be reduced by as much as £1 billion. Ministers are expected to insist that this will not affect operations in Afghanistan.

…The plan now is to have a rolling review looking at all aspects of defence management, the armed forces, and equipment procurement, over the next two years or so. There will have to be some cuts, though nothing on the scale previously suggested. One of the target areas is the helicopter budget. The number of machines will be reduced. The Trident replacement will be delayed by a year or two, but will go ahead in one form or another — as will the aircraft carrier programme, though with a different variant of the Lockheed Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter….”

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23886028-david-cameron-rules-out-slash-and-burn-defence-cuts.do

The rolling review makes sense, but I don’t believe for a minute STOVL has been abandoned so it calls into question imo, a lot of the other statements made in the article

I agree re, the F35C Liger – it would involve up front costs on EMALS that we just dont have.

Well this appears promising, of all the newspaper rumourmongering I hope this turns out near the mark!
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23886028-david-cameron-rules-out-slash-and-burn-defence-cuts.do

Summary:

No slash and burn, instead a 2 year rolling review

STOVL abandoned in favour of cat & traps.

Navy to reduce to smallest size ever to save carriers
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/8049674/Navy-to-reduce-to-smallest-size-ever-to-save-carriers.html

Don’t click the link for your own sake Liger!

No agreement reached at the latest NSC meeting, the sticking point still said to be the carriers.

The FT is reporting that both CVF’s are likely to get the go-ahead, though the seconds configuration is unkown.

The Treasury wants real-terms cuts of 10 per cent but military advice is that would require axing a range of capabilities. “Sensitive decisions” outlined to the NSC include loss of amphibious warfare capability and deep cuts to frigate and destroyer numbers.

Senior defence figures expect stark choices will convince the Treasury to impose single-figures cuts.

For the full story, google ‘Aircraft carrier orders likely to survive’