FEBA,
You say:
"The major concern of this thread, which is shared by the admiralty"
Rollocks, it was the "admiralty" that took the decision, the same people who removed Sea Eagle from the inventory and even now are reviewing the need for Sub-Harpoon in the SSN fleet.
The future? Well, all planning is done on forecasts, based on those forecasts you do budgeting, based on those budgets you decise what you need and what you want. The head sheds in the RN have decided that they don't NEED the SHAR between 2006 and 2012.
Jackonicko puts it rather well in his piece a a few posts down, it's a question of priorities.
We face no threat now that needs the SHAR, it'll be around till 2006, crystal ball gazing is all matter of priorities.