| Synopsis: |
The Ministry of Defence acted quickly once it realized its 2010 decision to procure the carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) had been based on flawed assumptions by reverting to procuring the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the fighter. By February 2012, the estimated cost of converting the aircraft carrier for the carrier variant of the JSF had increased by 150 per cent: from GBP800 million to about GBP2 billion. The STOVL option would be around GBP1.2 billion cheaper. The carrier variant option could also not be delivered until 2023, three years later than the planned date of 2020. However delayed investment in Crowsnest, the helicopter based radar system making up the third element of Carrier Strike, means that the system is not now scheduled to be fully operational until 2022 in any case. The Department expects to write off GBP74 million but this cost could have been ten times higher if the reversion decision had been made after May 2012. The carrier variant of the JSF has a greater range and payload than the STOVL variant and would have provided a more effective strike capability.However, STOVL creates the option to operate Carrier Strike from two carriers, providing continuous capability. By contrast, the carrier variant could operate from only the one carrier installed with cats and traps and therefore could provide capability for only 70 per cent of the time. The highest risk phases of carrier construction and integration are yet to come and complicated negotiations with commercial partners yet to be concluded |