BloodyHound Loose, (Expiry time?)
, agree with your post, but the cheap and cheerful option 3 has a lot of compromises that greatly limit it's effectiveness.
A short range turbo prop MPA would probably be able to defend the deterrent at home; however, it's likely to have limited utility protecting the carrier world-wide. It will be up to the decision makers to balance that risk.
The main purpose of a carrier is to project power globally, I have spent many hours, and from your pprune name I suspect so have you, in LRMPA's keeping an eye on them whilst they transit the GOO and at other times. Whilst they usually have plenty of subs to look after them, we might not be in the same position. IMHO, if we can't afford to look after them whilst they project power overseas, the safest place for them would be tied up alongside. How would you balance the risk of losing a carrier, your
only carrier, and the thousands of people on board?