We need a PATROL Aircraft to start with - not an ASW platform
What a load of crock! What do we need to "patrol"? We need an ASW platform; whether that is something Gucci like a P8 (which we cannot afford to buy) or something that keeps us in the game in the medium term (like a 295) will be down to budgets. If you need a "patrol" aircraft then there are already any number of assets that claim to be able to do it; Predator, Sentinel and E3 to name a few - none of them can do ASW. To do ASW you need a decent radar (which will also provide an ASuW capability); you need ESM of some sort to do ASW and ASuW; you need to be able to deploy sub-surface surveillance systems for ASW, which can be surprisingly handy for ASuW at times. A decent EO/IR camera system is now pretty much a must for either role, plus overland, MCT, SAR etc. You need good comms whether its for ASW or ASuW and an ability to deploy weapons is a must for either role. As I've said before, if you buy a properly equipped MMA which has a good ASW capability, you get all the other roles for "free". With carriers just a couple of years away we will need something more than a "patrol" aircraft to help protect them. As the main threat is likely to be from submarines there is no point in buying an aircraft which isn't ASW capable.
And just as an aside, doesn't MPA/MMA sit in the Jt Forces Cap area not within the Air or Navy command cap area?
