One hears that the reason for the indecent haste to destroy the Nimrod 2000 was "The Americans not wanting a non-NATO country to get hold of all the kit inside"....
Of course, any such American pressure (which frankly I do not believe) would simply be smoke and mirrors. Knowing that Tory Boy might one day realise what an utter ar$e he's been listening to moaning sandaholic pongos and that we actually
do need an MPA capability, they know that, without any Nimrod 2000s in mothballs, the only realistic option would be Boeing's P-8A Poseidon:
Incidentally, I was told this week that the US Navy 'didn't know' that large aircraft can happily use probe and drogue refuelling - hence the P-8A will need a boom-equipped tanker. Which is a capability the UK doesn't have.