"Peter Kemp" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 1 Jun 2004 20:11:47 -0400, "Kevin Brooks"
wrote:

While I generally agree with your critique in terms of the usual
journalistic twisting of words, the MoD quote does allow leeway for them
to
say later, "Well, we relooked at our requirements and decided we *really*
did not need 232 of these aircraft, that 180 is just fine..." or some
such
drivel.

If so, then it would be easier to just not order Tranche 3, rather
than ordering all 232 and then immediately selling some on. That's why
it tripped my BS meter.

But isn't tranche 3 the one that finally captures the full multi-role
capability? I would think that given the RAF's budgeting problems, the very
last thing they would want to do is give up the fully multi-role aircraft;
upgrading the earlier variants to that standard would presumably require a
cost somewhat greater than what is being saved by deleting those cannon...

Brooks


Peter Kemp