This is it the one we've been waiting for, puts the skids under all those europhiles who want our future defence tied up with the Germans and the wobbly French.

Boeing had a good case but in the end the bid from  Lockheed Martin proved more focused and in tune with the specification put out by the chiefs of staff. Boeing are now free to concentrate on the next generation of remote strike aircraft.

Lockheed have a history of providing superb strike and interceptor aircraft systems stemming from the legendary star fighter days of the cold war so the ability to deliver on this project cant be in doubt.

Whats it gonna do

For a start it combines the suberb versatility of the Harrier jump jets, which made such an impression on the American chiefs, with stealth and supersonic capability. In order to maximise stealth technology all weapons systems are carried within the aircraft. Despite its main role as a ground attack fighter it will also have multi role combat capability as an air to air fighter assisted by its 'over the horizon' radar systems.

It also will have twice the operational range of the Harrier and twice the thrust.