Going back to LP's comments about F-18s and such like, it doesn't appear to have occurred to him that Naval Aviation is to support the Fleet on its expeditionary operations, not to defend UK or European airspace. Nor that long range maritime air operations and reconnaissance etc operate (when we have them) in defence of UK waters and the approaches to them. Personally I think think the Navy should be broken up along with the Army and their respective core role subsumed into a resurgent RAF Marine Craft service and the RAF Regiment!
There, sorted!
FB