"a fool...... or the British Government..... would withdraw a strategic asset without having a replacement ready to enter service. "
Nut - I think you need to add "if it is still needed"
remember how the RAF built up a very useful front-line capability of in the '30's of fast, two seat army co-operation aircraft?
When they needed replacement it was done without thinking it through and they bought the Fairey Battle - but times had changed................ You could argue the same about buying the B-58 - the mission was still there but the means of achieving it changed