Ivor, the comparison was with the legacy Hornet, not the Super, which are very different aircraft.
I think I've made the point here before, but look at the required number of AD squadrons for the UK laid down by the government at a time when the need for QRA against loonies who'd hijacked an airliner or Russian bombers on long range strategic flights appeared almost non-existant. It was five. Less than that would put the UK at risk, apparently.
Look at the number of AD capable squadrons we have now, with an increased level of threat. It's four. And that includes the two Typhoon squadrons. It's not that the Typhoon isn't really ready, it's because our government is
ing inept when it comes to defence and the aircraft is needed here because of its AA capability, which means that the GR4 fleet - which isn't quite what one wants for QRA - has to go instead.