When it comes to AEW, I suspect we will make another bum decision based upon UK industry lobbying, shareholders and jobs. The CROWSNEST requirement to replace Seaking Whiskey has been around for a while - the lead candidate is a Merlin with a son-of Searchwater on board
What we need is Hawkeye 2000 or something else that can fly for 6-8hrs at 25,000ft+. But sadly we will get a Merlin that can fly for 4hrs at 10,000ft with about half the RADAR horizon
This supposedly leading carrier capability is fast falling into the 2nd division "crock of cr@p" category!
Best the knives come out to save us cutting more capability elsewhere to save it!
LJ