From what I recall Germany wanted a single engine derivative of the Eurofighter, with elements from the Hornet, not the Hornet itselfRamscoop nailed it well. Germany was really serious about getting Hornets instead of EFA (not Typhoon yet !). Spain already has Hornets so their choice is obvious. Great Britain I don't know, probably Hornets, too, as everything else is too expensive. Super Hornet is coming fast, so a mixed fleet might be possible.
The country that ends really screwed is Italy, with its antiquated F-104s. They probably buy F-16s from the beginning.
The Gripen is a light fighter, a good aircraft for its niche, but its a lot lighter than the Eurofighter or SHornet, MTW of 14t, v. 23.5t and 30t respectively for the other two. I don't think it would fit UK needs very wellThink you would also need a massive crisis at BAE as they would probably push the Griffin
Logistics commonality, a lot easier to convince the Treasury to pay for one new fast jet type rather than two, and well the SuperHornet can operate from land bases, the Strike Eagle can't operate from carriers. Now the UK didn't decide new carriers were in the future until 1998, and Eurofighter cancellation is likely rather before then, but I believe the SuperHornet was cheaper than the Strike Eagle in the late 90's, I think by about $14 million (57 vs. 71 million I think), so a penny pinching treasury might prefer the cheaper option, and if it has future possibility of the FAA using it too all the betterFor the FAA just have the RN decide to go back to big deck traps and cats carriers sooner than OTL and have them decide to go with the Super Hornet as their main aircraft.
For the RAF, if the Typhoon is cancelled is the Super Hornet really a good fighter for them? Frankly I would rather have the latest variants of the F-15. Bigger, faster, heavier warload, longer range.
Also what F-18 K/M? No such variant exists or to my knowledge were proposed. The SuperHornet is the F/A-18 E/F
Matches the US designation for the RN and RAF F-4 (FG.1 and FGR.2 in service), and use of the "K" designation for other US supplied or planned aircraft for the UK (C-130K, F-111K etc).
For the FAA just have the RN decide to go back to big deck traps and cats carriers sooner than OTL and have them decide to go with the Super Hornet as their main aircraft.
For the RAF, if the Typhoon is cancelled is the Super Hornet really a good fighter for them? Frankly I would rather have the latest variants of the F-15. Bigger, faster, heavier warload, longer range.