Nov2015: "Britain's MoD says NO to Boeing P-8 ASW MPA B737".

[Stratofreighter]

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/new ... 627241.ece

THE Ministry of Defence is understood to have dropped a £2bn plan to buy a fleet of US-made submarine-hunting jets for the RAF.

The proposed purchase of up to nine P-8 Poseidon aircraft
was expected to be the centrepiece of the government’s forthcoming defence review,
but sources say the project has been shelved after ministers decided the aircraft were “fiendishly expensive”.

The move has raised fears that Britain’s four Vanguard nuclear deterrent submarines and the navy’s new £6bn aircraft carriers could be inadequately protected.

Senior retired RAF officers argued earlier this year that Britain’s nuclear deterrent has been left vulnerable after plans to update a fleet of Nimrod submarine-hunting aircraft were axed in 2010.

The defence review, due to be published later this month, was widely expected to announce a replacement for the Nimrod, with Boeing’s P-8, which carries torpedoes, depth charges, anti-ship missiles, regarded as the frontrunner.

...and in print:
https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 08/photo/1

[SquAdmin]

Well, you'd say this improves the odds of the Kawasaki P-1. Still have to see if Britain would actually procure Japanese weapons...

[michel N]

There was also an offer to update the Hercules to SC-130, when the Herks are replaced by the A400. It could be a lot cheaper, since no new airframes have to be build. And, the update could be done by Marshalls of Cambridge. So don't rule out that option

[geert99]

It can't be a coincidence that the P-1's were present at the Air Tattoo. The Japaneese knew there was a possibility. I wouldn't be surprised to see the P-1's as the best candidates now.

[FredL]

There was also an offer to update the Hercules to SC-130, when the Herks are replaced by the A400. It could be a lot cheaper, since no new airframes have to be build. And, the update could be done by Marshalls of Cambridge. So don't rule out that option

Cheaper ? Maybe, but not sure. Don't forget that the RAF's first option was also to "re-work" an existing aircraft, the previous MPA, the Nimrods.
After a long program, with many adaptations (reducing the number of airframes involved, etc.) and increasing costs, the plan was finally cancelled at an advanced stage and the planes scrapped.

[aviodromefriend]

There was also an offer to update the Hercules to SC-130, when the Herks are replaced by the A400. It could be a lot cheaper, since no new airframes have to be build. And, the update could be done by Marshalls of Cambridge. So don't rule out that option

Cheaper ? Maybe, but not sure. Don't forget that the RAF's first option was also to "re-work" an existing aircraft, the previous MPA, the Nimrods.
After a long program, with many adaptations (reducing the number of airframes involved, etc.) and increasing costs, the plan was finally cancelled at an advanced stage and the planes scrapped.

That Herc offer has been made, but AFAIK was never seriously considered, as the aircraft are very worn out due to their never envisaged tempo of work.

[Stratofreighter]

If the Boeing P-8 Poseidon is considered to be "fiendishly expensive", then probaby the same applies to the Kawasaki P-1.

Okay, it is Wikipedia -and not an official document, but prices like:

US$140.8 millon to US$167 million

as quoted at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawasaki_P-1
are not really going to win over the British treasury when they already baulk at the £100 million a piece asked by Boeing...

[Le Addeur noir]

Britain has higher spending priorities than defence.

Foreign aid takes precedence in Britain these days over merely defending the Realm.

Foreign aid is ringfenced by law. Unlike defence which can be further reduced.

[brian25]

Too true