I know that it's a while since this thread was last active, but does anyone know what the outcome of this was? Has a decision been made yet?
As an ex-RAF technician that worked on Nimrods, I was sad to see the project get scrapped when it looked like it was so close to completion, but not totally surprised given the pathetic, short sighted people that we have in the UK pulling the budget strings.
I'm currently working in Seville on the Brazilian P-3 conversion and am really impressed with the capability of the new electronics suite, but the airframes are in a shocking state and are really showing their age. I think that the RAF would be much better off going down the CASA route with a 235 or 295. Apparently a 235 goes for about €45M with the electronics suite. Seems like a bargain to me!