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@byteseu Why is the UK buying F35s ? The suspension by the US of IT support for Ukrainian F16s is the alarm bell.
US does not sell aircraft, it licenses them on the same basis HP will disable a printer not reloaded with their proprietry cartridges.
Equally, why is the British Army buying Ajax armoured fighting vehicles from General Dynamics "UK Limited" (a subsidiary of convenience) when for generations we built our own tanks?

@RejoinEU @byteseu Perhaps because BAe is a major sub-contractor? If I understand correctly the aft fuselage of every F35 is built in Britain. BAe also builds other components.
Joining the programme does though look like a mistake - being in a European consortium would have wiser. Can we hope the lesson has been learned?

@ApAlun @byteseu When you collaborate with an aggressively dominant partner, you are more likely to get shafted imo. UK has a history of multilateral cooperation with European aerospace & defence industry with SEPECAT Jaguar, PANAVIA Tornado, Eurofighter, and Concorde & Airbus. Our ridiculous nationalist hissy-fit with all things 'European' has driven us further into the arms of exploitative & controlling US defence giants. That we get to build bits, or assemble in Wales is poor compensation.

@RejoinEU @byteseu Agree. I think it was after the TSR2 debacle that the aerospace industry felt happier with multi-national projects, feeling that they were harder (but not impossible), for the UK to cancel because of the political ramifications. Actually, I can't think of a UK only supersonic military aircraft that has actually been built since the TSR2.
Of course, the government was happy too as it meant development costs were shared.
Will the Tempest go ahead?