For me, we need - and will always need - a credible Air Defence capability.
For me, that means as near to Air Supremacy in the skies over our soil and littoral zone as we can get.
Perhaps for that, the Typhoon is great - and if additional mission capability can be bolted on, then even better (at the right price). Any more airframes than those which we need for that role (inc spares) seems to be a luxury.
For power projection it makes sense to me to have fast air which can deploy off the boat and from rough field so that they can go anywhere that is needed.
If they have acres of pristine tarmac to jump off and on to, then that can only be for the better.
Obviously these beasts of war need to be truly multi / swing role so that one type can do lots.
PS - If they go for an EW / ECM F35, would it follow the USN Prowler & Growler convention and be called a "Howler"?
