Originally Posted by
mahogany bob
2.We need an MPA now for the basic defence / well-being of the UK which should be our main priority.
And what would be the mission requirement for this MPA?
If it be basic defence of the UK, and assume there is a threat, then we are talking of a littoral role. To prosecute one SSK, off say the Firth of Forth or the outer Clyde, then you need 3 MPA plus a maintenance spare. To prosecute in the SWApps as well you now need 7. To deploy OOA you need another 2 or 3 depending on whether you want a daylight or 24 hr patrol cycle.
If you want to replicate the Nimrod LRMP role you need a similar number of larger airframes.
Even the MRA4 was never going to be in enough numbers to meet 3 simultaneous tasks.