How did we get here?
Cost cutting has doubtless been a major factor - as has getting out of entire capability areas (EW Support - 360Sqn, let alone MPA....). However, the FJ world should be a little careful about complaining too loudly; to the detriment of other fleets the RAF has introduced Typhoon and continues to pursue F35 with vigour. These Gen 4.5+ toys have robbed a massive part of the budget and the price of dining at the top table has been a reduction in sustainable force size. It was totally unrealistic to expect a 'one for one' replacement for legacy FJ types when you've justified paying the enormous sticker price by claiming they're X times more capable than their predecessors....
Some of the FJ Sqns have been replaced by RPAS, others by improved ISR capabilities. Other roles (eg Maritime Attack) have simply been removed. I'd be bold enough to suggest that, MPA aside, it is a better balanced RAF we have today and far more capable (in all terms but concurrency). We have, post-Typhoon 'bulge', introduced genuine organic heavy lift (C17), much improved ISR (Sentinel, Shadow, Pred, Reaper, RJ) with A400M and F35 (so much more than a FJ....) to come. Yes, elements were UOR funded, and doubtless some of the FJ rationalisation is an attempt to bring these useful capabilities into core.
It's quite funny to see the RW force listed as 'non combat sqns' in Kitbag's list. How times change......