Well, I wouldn't say the sun set on the British empire yet. There have been plenty of harrier jets flying missions in far flung places like the Falklands and Iraq too, don't forget. I don't see the sun having set on the British empire, as much as I see it extending its reach to now include the Anglo American US empire. When is the last time you can recall a Franco-American military alliance, for instance? Or a German-American military alliance.