All in all it looks like the RAF hierachy have played a bit of a blinder under the circumstances
I am not so sure. When Afgh finishes in a couple of years what will the RAF have to put in the public eye? Without SAR and Nimrod there will not be much going on in and around UK. FJ flying hours will be cut right back to save money, there will be nowhere to fly all the Predators you have bought, JSF training will all be in the USA, there will be a very limited requirement for Truckies and the refuellers, and all will be wondering why we have bought Rivet Joint. Oh yes, and the extra CH-47s will not be ordered and I would not lay too much store on the long term future of Puma.
I can see the RAF shrinking much further over the next 10 years. Of course you will still have a fully funded RAFAT and BBMF!