Re: Value for money?
 

The Tornados were intended for use in a missile rich environment - European Eastern Bloc where . When used in Iraq (which was not classed as being a missile rich environment), at low level the unsuitability for low level action was demonstrated in that it was very susceptible to AAA and shoulder fired missiles.
Firing A-G missiles or laser guided bombs keep the aircraft out of range of AAA and Stingers etc.

Re: Value for money?
 

The trucks have zero value as an enemy asset. They are too easily replaced. The guns, mortars and IS personnel have a estimable value, because it can be guessed how many lives have been saved by removing them from the picture.

Don't forget that bombs and missiles have a use-by date. Once that gets reached, they have depreciated to nothing in value, so the purchase price isn't really what a munition is worth unless it's still new in its box. Ed Macy wrote Apache in which he went through his experience as an attack helicopter pilot in Afghanistan. At one point on RTB from a combat mission, he realises he's giong to be in trouble from the quartermaster because he fired off the wrong missiles, releasing new ones from the rail instead of the ones that had been out on a few missions and returned unused.

Re: Value for money?
 

Whatever happened to napalm? It's cheap ... and smells like victory;)

Re: Value for money?
 

Especially in the morning:D

Re: Value for money?
 

The Tornados are - I believe, using UK ordnance, the more they fire the more jobs for the boys:-)