What ever the politics or political pressure behind the tasking, Mariano's map indicates the huge task these jets were facing. Had they unwisely chose to press on then they will be face at least one Sea Dart salvo from Exeter before entering the MEZ of the main body covered by Cardiff and Invincible's Sea Dart systems plus Andromeda's Sea Wolf and she was goalkeeping for Invincible at the time. They wouldn't have got home to tell the story.