It will be up to a decade before replacement ships and aircraft come into service.

BBC: Queen bids farewell to carrier Ark Royal

Earlier this year, President Obama promised his French counterpart, Nicholas Sarkozy, that EADS would be allowed to compete for the long-overdue replacement of U.S. aerial refueling aircraft initially bought during the Eisenhower administration.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Disastrously 'transforming' defense

The money will pay for helicopters, cargo aircraft, four new warships and a replacement for the Crusader cannon, which is considered too heavy for modern warfare.

BBC: Senate backs Bush's defence budget

Downing Street, it seems, wanted some positive headlines out of the SDSR, which was largely an exercise in cutbacks, so it decided to back the idea of Britain getting a "grown up" aircraft carrier, ie one launching conventional aircraft with catapults rather than a very large replacement "Harrier Carrier".

BBC: Why did coalition government change fighter plane plan?

If past practice is any guide, the application of such a "fly-before-buy" acquisition approach would leave the Marines without an operational aircraft until the year 2005, and delay complete replacement of the CH-46 until 2015.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | ��Now Hear This��: Will Aspin��s Commitment To V-22 Translate Into Needed Momentum, Real Peace Dividend?

The company hired replacement workers on Saturday to fill in for the strikers, who belong to the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), unveiling a backup plan it had quietly drafted 18 months ago.

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