However, all is not well with the Type 45 and her systems - see
Evolution of PAAMS/Sea Viper. Also, we were meant to get twelve, not that is down to six.
This
interview with the then First Sea Lord back in early 2003 may interest you.
You need a lot of Type 45s to give the same coverage as a naval air-defence fighter.
This interview is on page one of the
Sea Jet thread. I think losing Sea Harrier was a very real loss for the RN. The
Korea Sanctions Blockade thread from October 2006 (no contributions from me due to technical issues - PC being repaired rather slowly) is worth a read. Unless you're particularly good at looking into the crystal ball, you cannot say with any degree of certainty that fleet air defence or other carrier based capabilities with not be needed in the next decade.