Topgun, I try to only post as best I can factual information; though all too often opinion will seep through. Like you I had stayed away from pprune for a long time, mainly as you say most posts degrade to slanging matches; furlough is the only reason I have had time to start posting again.
Cobhams contract was saved by the cancellation of ASDOT. That said the NATO Jewcs contract would have sustained a small part of the fleet had Cobham not won the now cancelled ASDOT.
Cobham had originally teamed up with Draken for the ASDOT bid, which would have replaced most of the Falcons with some kind of small fast jet (not sure what Draken had but probably an Alphajet type thing or equivalent).