Sumps
The writer of your article is Tim Ripley, who I believe was at the Press Day at the Air Combat Power Visit at RAF Waddington for Advanced Staff College students this October. I suspect that his story has come from that event due to the timing of the article and the date of the Press event. There were lots of questions about "where is MRA4?" which was conspicuous by its absence!
From what I read, he looks like he is "on the money" and that is similar to what I've heard.
LJ