Widget..yes much has gone but you are being overly pessimistic about what the full implications are. Yes they will be severe but not a complete end to all days. At some point too the Government will have to give further consideration to shuffling cash between departmental budgets to make it work better too. Some capabilities will take priority over others whatever the additional cutbacks to come...one of those being the preservation of the deterrents' effectiveness...hence something will be done in due course to fill at least some of the gap left by the demise of MRA4...and yes ..no doubt the planners will be giving serious consideration as to what that will mean for extant capabilities too...including addressing some of the issues you talk off no doubt.
BTW....once upon a time Culdrose was the largest helo base in Europe but has not been for many a year since circa 120 ASW, SAR & AEW SKs & 30 Gazelles were replaced by circa 35 Merlins and about 25 remaining SKs. The Sea Prince and then Jetstream fleet has also evaporated to a few Avengers....so I don't think slipping a few additional fixed wing for LRMPA work will be too taxing...especially as CU is now the de facto home UK ASW capability....How the world turns eh?
Last edited by Tallsar; 5th Jun 2011 at 21:02.