M M
UAVs maybe for some roles, but E-3D and Sentinel? Maybe in theory, but how many E-3D and Sentinel airframes have we got or are getting. I know you think the E-3D can do everything, and maybe it can. It might well be 'magic', but even it can't be three places at once!! If you look around the globe (all of it!!) at current MR2 Ops (not exercises!) the current E-3D fleet couldn't cover the commitment. Sentinel is very specialised, and no doubt the army will keep its tasking close to their chest. If a Nimrod is overkill for some of its current roles why use a bigger, more expensive to run, rarer airframe such as the E-3D. I would also think commanders would be reluctant to expose an E-3D to the level of risk that MR2s ae currently exposed to.
There are many people very pro UAVs, and they have an important role to play, but in combination with manned aircraft. Most of the criticism of MRA4 is based on BAes failure to get it working, rather than the concept for the aircraft. In my opinion the worse thing we did was call it Nimrod MRA4, rather than give it a new name. Most people just see it as a continuation of the old Nimrod (the same thing happened with the Hercules, ask the J model boys), whereas it is a quantum leap ahead with the prospect of successfully carrying out many new roles provided the RAF and senior officers have the imagination and vision to do so. It will offer true mutirole capability in times when we are looking for our limited number of airframes to fulfill successfully a wide variety of tasks. If BAe can deliver it to spec of course!!