flightglobal.com 17-23 March 2015 | Flight International | 31
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AirTeamImages❯❯Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
While the nations on both sides of the At-
lantic have continually affirmed that the UK’s
P-8 involvement does not determine which
procurement path the UK will take, it certain-
ly does ensure that the RAF would be ready to
operate such an aircraft.APPEALING
As the UK does with its Boeing RC-135W
Rivet Joint and Boeing C-17 strategic transport
fleets, it could tap into the support network
that the USA has established for the P-8, mak-
ing it a logistically appealing option.
“I think all of the other options in the mix
would really reflect the pressure on funding,”
Barrie notes. “To move away from a top-end
solution would simply be driven by funding
constraints. It’s a question of capability – what
kind of roles do we see ourselves playing in
the world?”
Elsewhere, the UK’s attack helicopter fleet
is at risk of facing obsolescence problems if it
RAF Typhoons have been called on to escort Russian aircraft away from UK airspace is not replaced or upgraded.
UK personnel have
been training alongside
the US Navy on the P-8Crown Copyright