I do wonder whether a replacement for the E-3D needs to be in its image, or even crewed to the same extent (or in the same way).
There is plenty of evidence, even at Waddington itself, of remote operations, keeping pink bodies in the UK.
The back end operators could stay on the ground and be available to operate alongside the desperately undermanned teams in the CRCs - and with the right comms in place, they could operate from the CRCs themselves.
Awaits incoming.