Well, AFAIK the UK is paying 2.5billion USD; IF the total development budget ends up at 40 billion then that's 6.251%. However if the budget increases above and beyond that (say, to 55 billion) then we're talking less than 5% of the total development budget.
The belief was founded on an agreement that the USA would release them to the UK, not on any sense of entitlement based on the UK share of development costs.
), & was well-qualified to know what source code meant.Doesn't the Merlin seem a bad buy for both the RN & RAF, it seems to be to small to be really useful like the Chinnok and yet to big to be attractive/flexible for exports in other roles. We seem to have backed the wrong horse that has taken our Helicopter industrial capability down. I doubt when production is done it will top 150?? And yet every man and his dog seem to be buying the NH90, the one Euro project we don't join and they have orders of c700 already! If we had joined we would probably have brought c100-120 and have a production line and export potential, well at lease it's an Italian problem now
Over 170 had been sold before the recent Algerian decision to buy more, which should take production over 200. As well as the UK & Italy, it's sold to Canada, Japan, Algeria, Portugal, Saudi Arabia & Denmark, been selected by India, & if it wasn't for a procurement screw-up in the USA which had nothing to do with either the helicopter or Agusta Westland, would have sold more than two there.
Give me a Merlin over NH90 anyday of the week, it's carrying capacity and rear ramp bring much to the table, particualry in the CASEVAC role. Plus for SF and FOB support use you can load the rear with Quads and drive them right out the back. Merlin can land on any maritme platform a NH90 can, so what's not to like? The three engine configeration builds in redundency and a great deal of power - great for hot and high locations. The real issue is cost, a Merlin is more expensive than a NH90. If MASC migrates to Merlin, then you will have a tidy platform big enough and with the range to keep it in the air for extended periods. Also with the Chinook purchase approved, the MK3 Merlin can replace SK and take up the role of supporting 3 Commando, the airframe can fit in and on Ocean, QE & PW. Chinook can only lillypad on Ocean, we need an airframe which can be maintained below decks. I would be very happy as a comander with Wildcat, Merlin and Chinook at my disposal supported by Apache.
Their in lies the problem with that stance is that the army wants as many wokkas as possible and the RAF loves the C17 so their the services are dictating what they want. Would you want to go against the establishment to get UK kit. As for the C17 their is no UK or Euro equivalent unless we asked the russiks or the Ukraninans if they let us have 7 Antonov 124 with trents.why should we give up on a successful helicopter and aerospace industry just to buy cheaper from the u.s?
the merlin and typhoon are selling well on the export market and bring in valuable cash to our industries and employment market which you will never get back if those industries fail....and without competition everybody is poorer.......
i dont mean blindly buy british if the stuff isnt up to par but in these cases they are.the merlin is a just about the best medium helicopter around and the typhoon more than stands comparison(and thats being modest)against the f22 (and its for sale unlike the f22)
i am fed up to the back teeth with this spineless'best value'culture in this country.
we value nothing we exceed at whilst the french and americans stand proud of the industries,traditions and achievements....and what good does our attitude do us?......
answer;we become ever more a nation of shopkeepers and less the major,innovitive power we deserve to be......
Its just a case of balancing what we develop and what we don't, I firmly believe the C17 and Chinook are the perfect choice for what the RAF should become, there aren't really much in the way of decent alternatives for either and we already operate them anyway so its a very rational decision to buy more of them.
No we aren't. Frankly EADS should have put a bit more forethought into it before entering a fixed price contract!!
I would really appreciate if someone gave an answer to my initial question,which is number of combat aircraft in the long term.
depends what your idea of a combat aircraft is... are we talking fighters only or AWACS, UAVs and refuelers aslwel?
Only the eurofighter and F-35 in total.
The UK Government has not yet decided how many F-35's it will acquire, so it is not possible to give you the answer you seek.
will you or anyone else atleast give me a minimum number of F-35 the UK will end up procuring?
