Ref the E-2C argument,
It would be great to see CVF toting a decent airborne C2 platform such as Hawkeye 2000 or an Osprey variant.
By the time CVF will realistically come into service, the RAF E-3D fleet should (hopefully!) have been subject to a mid life upgrade (Project EAGLE). This should replace it's archaic 1970's computer systems with a modern Battle Management system. Accordingly, it may be able to dovetail some elements of mission systems to obtain commonality with MASC.
Even allowing for improvements offered by the Hawkeye 2000 however, the E-2 is more complimentary to AWACS than an interchangeable asset. This is due to it's small crew, limited radio fit, ceiling and endurance. It also has several other limitations. AAR could possibly cure the endurance issue, but the others are difficult to address. That said, it's still a very useful bit of kit and the ac that the RN should aspire to (if only because it'll cause the CVF design to be frozen at a useful deck size!).
Regrettably however, I would be very surprised if MASC turns out to be anything more than a Merlin with an updated ASaC7 system inside (hopefully including a missionised co-pilot position). This would overcome some of the limitations of the current Sea King, but a rotary wing MASC would be of questionable use when one considers how CVF is hoped to be employed. Certainly, the 849 guys that I've spoken to have all accepted that there is just not the cash for a fixed wing or Osprey based platform. The E-2 is still a very costly asset, and any system integration in Osprey would mean paying for the platform to be pressurised and have all the systems integration.
We can but hope however...
Regards,
M2