we desperately need a long range PATROL aircraft - but does it need to have ASW capability as well?
Yes - Both our independant SSBN force and our 2020 Carrier Strike Group needs ASW protection at long range.
An ASW MPA/MMA provides a flexible, high speed, long range, renewable weapons carrying, semi-persistant capability (i.e, 24/7 ops for a couple of weeks) in defence of our SSBN's and CSG's, that cannot be replicated by any other asset.
That is why a key mitigation strategy for the scrapping of the MRA4 is to ask our allies for help in the guise of using their ASW MPA to do the job on behalf of UK plc. The requirement has not gone away. We just don't have a UK aircraft that can fill the void right now.