The Nimrod replacement from another angle

[McColm]

It seems to me that the MOD will need to replace its' Boeing E-3Ds at some point. Whether they stick to the same layout and choose the Airbus over a Boeing is debatable, but the aircraft once stripped of its AEW equipment could be considered for maritime patrol.
Armchair annalists dismiss the P-8 Poseidon having the lack of range and time on patrol (cost) but argue that the Sentinel could be re-equipped with a maritime radar and under-wing pylons. They also agree that the MOD can only afford the Airbus A319.
  The leasing of the P-3 Orion would make sense as a cheaper option rather than using the maritime pod installed in the C-130s. 

[Hobbes]

I can't imagine the E-3D being replaced before the airframes are completely worn out and the radar painfully obsolete.

[PR19_Kit]

The MoD doesn't see the need for ANY maritime recce as far as I can see. Otherwise why did they disband the Nimrod force in its entirety?

[Weaver]

From what I heard at the time, the MOD fully understands the need for a maritime recce force, but were told to toe the politically expedient line by No.10......

Give it a few more years (until Joe Public forgets) and watch: they'll "decide" that the C-130 force is overworked and that they need to relieve them of the SAR role (which they imposed on them in the first place) by buying a small fleet of anything but Nimrods......

[Thorvic]

The MoD doesn't see the need for ANY maritime recce as far as I can see. Otherwise why did they disband the Nimrod force in its entirety?

Actually they do thats why there is project Seedcorn still on-going to maintain MPR training to RAF/RN crew with allied units to continue the skill set. The RN have also been lead in investigating future MPA options as and when funding is again available.

Best guess so far is a likely off the shelf procurement of Boeing P-8 Posiedons under the 2020 SDSR possibly with some global hawks in the naval recon role, what funding they do have spare will be eaten up by the further Treasury cuts and maintaining a war chest to cover the draw down and withdrawal of the BAOR, maintaing Sentinel & Repear in the 2015 SDSR and confirming the use of both QEC class carriers. We may also see some the off-shelf mod packs for the Hercules MPA  fitted to some of the C-130J as their replacement A-400M Atlas C1's enter service and those MPA hercs form the nucleus of an interim MPA force as a bandage over the MPA capability gap and justification for a dedicated type under the next SDSR.