Most expensive RAF aircraft ever built takes to the skies

The new Nimrod MRA4 is not only the most expensive British military aircraft ever made but one of the most expensive aircraft in the world: 9 Nimrod MRA4s to cost same as 3½ Space Shuttles

You don't pay the best part of a billion dollars per plane for comms relay and basic aerial spyeye capability, not unless you're insane or a crook. A cheap unmanned drone able to do such things costs no more than £10-20m, even with the MoD buying.

The MRA4 is largely foreign kit integrated into a historical chassis. It has a 40 year old airframe based on a design from the 1940s. For the cost of one of these giant flying white elephants the RAF could double its Chinook fleet.

IMO: Seems to me that there could be a place where UK budgets could be reduced by scrapping the plane ASAP.