What Party animal just said ... the Nimrod MRA Mark 4 was scrapped not the role.
Our esteemed CAS (?) said to us all at Kinloss days after the scrapping announcement
"it's just the aircraft that has been scrapped, the role is extant
Not looking to pick a fight and agree with your thrust....however.
CAS does not have the final vote...politicians have that. And Fox is on parlimentary record as saying that the loss of the MPA capability could be mitigated (his words) by frigates, helicopters and C130. Which, as the MPA and RN community know is complete and total bull crap.
Bull crap that has now been exposed by the wider defence community.
PS
I am light blue biased and I do have an RAF chip on my shoulder...but I still know that an LRMPA should be operated by the RN.