Well said The old Fat One.
It beggars belief that people think an argument can, or should, be made for the reinstatement of military MPA, based on the ability find a sunken civilian airliner. IT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE FOR.
Military MPA are involved in this search because there are no dedicated air assets for finding sunken airliners - so you use what you can.
As I said above, skill and luck might result in a find. Let's hope so. But whether a military MPA does, or does not, find said airliner, has absolutely no bearing on the role, requirement, or ability of military MPA.
Sun.