When it comes to defence procurement, there are no minor decisions. Complex technology, long time frames and staggering sums of money mean that any acquisition is a significant commitment. Sometimes, though, events conspire to turn that decision into a microcosm of the hard questions facing overall defence policy.
The Royal Air Force is about to lose a significant proportion of its combat strength. It currently has a total of 179 fighter/strike aircraft, 143 Eurofighter Typhoon F2s and FGR4s and 36 Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightnings. However, almost a quarter of those – 32 Typhoons from the original Tranche 1 – will retire this year. Ministers had a choice to make good the capability gap: replace the Typhoons with newer versions of the same aircraft, or order more Lightnings from US-based defence company Lockheed Martin instead.
This is a difficult call for the Ministry of Defence,
Given recent debates over the future of the UK’s close military cooperation with the United States, this has become symbolic.
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