"But sadly we will get a Merlin "
No you won't. There aren't any (or enough) spare airframes, and nor will there be, unless you want to abandon ASW. There isn't a hope in hell of AW getting another Merlin order: the "issues" with those already supplied and the ensuing reputation (however ill-deserved) has seen to that.
IF the carriers get any AEW it will be an overseas airframe purchased off-the-shelf with the bagger kit transferred from the Sea Kings. No new radars.
Even if there were new radar kit it would take ten years+ to integrate it into the airframe once the bare aircraft had been delivered. So, what are you looking at ? 14 YEARS if the order was placed now. Even if you reused the kit from the Sea Kings you would still be looking at several years to integrate it.
Realistically, its not going to happen.
Last edited by Milo Minderbinder; 18th Jun 2012 at 20:43.