Tornado has never been an MPA and has not had a maritime role since Sea Eagle was retired aeons ago. Sentinel is not an MPA either. Am I missing something here?
Not at all. Its just the way that the RAF group their aircraft...Offensive (Harrier, Jaguar), Defensive (F3, Typhoon), MPA/ Recce (GR4, Sentry, Nimrod) Etc etc. Apologies if they are in the incorrect bracket
So you would advocate having a Navy that, effectively, is reduced to an air power projection + denial outfit (T45/Aster, Trident, Tomahawk and Harrier/JCA)? I would rather our Navy actually concentrate on its traditional job of securing sea lines of communication. You would certainly need them if you binned most of the heavy-lift AT.
Me too but something has to give. ASW ? Amphibious ?