Just for once I have to back up WEBF on this
The cost of retaining Sea Harrier until 2012 was quoted on the 24th Feb 2002 as £109 Million. The reason given was T45 would take over the AD role in 2007 and Sea harrier could not shoot down a missile (was this ever proven?)
the T42's are now old and tired, Sea Dart is all but obselete. So the fleet now pretty much has no 1st and 2nd layer of air defence. Very few Nations that the RN will have to deal with in the immediate future have credible Submarine / Surface forces. But they all have Air forces! So when HNS isnt Available or too far away for the RAF to provide effective CAP then what happens? Have we learned nothing from 26 years ago (I shan't mention it - I know it is seen as "Not relevent" any more
)
In the meantime the UK Tax Payer is shelling out £500 Million for the 1st 2 of class which are begining to look like white elephants. WHERE'S THE SENSE?