Billions to bomb Libya ?
I believe costs about 250 million . However the pilots need to practice so would be costs if we had not taken part.
I read also that British aircraft had impressed foreign buyers and may result in a large export order to India.
So may end up on the profit side.

Whatever one says about the pensions for state employees , these are not sustainable in the modern era and have to be paid for by private sector workers whose average pay is less.