I understand at a fairly recent conference an independent think tank type with vast experience, stated that we needed more MPA with the MRA4's capability and less fast jets.
No doubt this will upset our fast jet comrades, which is not intended. Yes the MRA 4 has not came in on time or budget, but then does any major project?
The need for this multi-role aircraft, i believe is still justified. Yes other platforms can do long range SAR searches, but not as efficiently, time is important as im sure you will all appreciate.
Ask anyone who has done a complete search and identification of the Falklands zone. I have done a bit of a search of the zone and a bit of SAR down there in a Herc many years ago and im sorry to have to say the Nimrod can do it in a fraction of the time due to radar and aircraft performance. If it was up to me and we had the airframes and the crews I'd have one down there permanently.
There is the arguement that the US Coast Guard use the Herc for long range SAR, so why not us, well the link below may give you a clue on that and of other types of operation:
http://www.internationalrelations.ho.../utl051105.pdf
Another glowing report for our equipment.
As for ASW, yes the days of the cold war may be over, but with greatest form of stealth being submarines and any potential threat against our or coalitions Navy, can we really afford to be without that capability. The submarine is an affordable piece of hardware, conventional ones that is, especially the smaller ones. What would happen if AQ got one, scary thought. China has already been mentioned, lets hope we never upset them, could be very messy.
I won't go into the overland roles, but the MRA 4 mission suite gives greater flexibility, modern comms and the option for various payloads.
Surely it is more cost effective to have a multi-role Maritime aircraft than many specialist one job types.
For years the Maritime Patrol community has been getting bashed, mainly by the uninformed. The nature of the job, as others have also perhaps, is that we dont go public one many of the things that we do. Maybe we dont have the great
PR machine like the RN seems to have, but thats life.
In comparison, how busy is the E3 fleet these days. They worked their backsides off during the balkans, but although quiet now, are you really trying to say they wont be required again. I think not.
No doubt there will still be the doubters and bleaters, whether we get the MRA 4 or not we will always need a capable MPA.