British participation in the Libya operation makes comments like this even more on point:

Amongst the most desperately short-sighted decisions of the SDSR was the frankly inexplicable decision to jettison the country’s maritime air capabilities in favour of retaining RAF Tornados. I welcome the letter published in the Daily Telegraph today ‘Military experts warning over defence spending review‘ from a group of distinguished officers and academics, including my colleague Professor Andrew Lambert, urging the Minister to reconsider the decision and suggesting a more strategically sound and cost-effective alternative

It’s not just the Harriers and HMS Ark Royal. The loss of the Nimrod R1 patrol aircraft and the cancellation of the Nimrod MRA4 maritime patrol aircraft will make British participation in operations like the Libya NFZ much more difficult. That wouldn’t be such a problem were it not clear that the UK was very interested in participating in such operations.

 

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The 3xNimrod R.1 will be replaced by 3xRC-135 Rivet Joint ... in 2014 with another three years gap, but the only credible replacement to the ill-fated Nimrod MR.4 is the P-8 Poseidon ...

http://www.glgroup.com/News/3-year-gap-bet...atre-48987.html

The 3xNimrod R.1 will be replaced by 3xRC-135 Rivet Joint ... in 2014 with another three years gap, but the only credible replacement to the ill-fated Nimrod MR.4 is the P-8 Poseidon ...

 

British crews have already started training on US RC-135W's, with combined ops due later in the year. I've delayed creating an RC-135W 'Air Seeker' in the HCDB due to the potential extension of the Nimrod R.1's life service.