FEBA,
You continue to fail to answer any of the points made in support of decommissioning the SHar. I'm sure you must have some sensible arguments beyond the "Remember the Falklands" and "Losing SHar would mean we couldn't autonomously project power globally" stuff you've outlined. Or perhaps you haven't?
And with ASRAAM the GR9 would be a credible defence in certain scenarios, but it doesn't matter, because a) the AD 'gap' left by SHar is only for six years and b) the capability can be provided by allies or land based assets and c) there isn't much of a credible near term threat. Apart from that, of course......
As far as I know......
If there were any meaningful threat to UK JSF you'd hear the bleating from Boeing from here. Equally, any threat to JSF would soon be apparent from BAE, as would threats to the carrier.
We'd know. Just as we knew long before the proposal first emerged to cut an F3 squadron, just as we knew when the early withdrawal of SHar and Jag were first run as options. This stuff doesn't stay secret long....