They don’t seem very reliable, and we have to ask, do we really need them. Some notes and links …
We need to ask if they’re up to the job and even what the job is.
They have no anti-missile missiles, Simon claims the Navy has no air defence destroyers, no catapults which restricts the choice of aircraft, their range and payload. The aircraft are 90% US owned and the UK doesn’t have enough F35s to equip both ships and the RAF. NB The French use a complement of Dassault Rafale M and E-2C Hawkeye aircraft (AEW), AS365F Dauphin Pedro, EC725 Caracal and AS532 Cougar helicopters for combat search and rescue.
The comments on the youtube video defend the reliability record of the carriers, and the choice of F35Bs. Although on reliability, it might suggest we don;t have enough, as it’s common to plan for one on station, one or two on the way in and/or out and one in the dock.
The F35’s are optimised for carrier operations and may not be what the RAF requires for either air-superiority or ground attack as there are numerous versions, each with different optimisations. There is a security of supply issue with the F35s.
I add that the Daring class destroyer, of which there are six, is designed as an area air defence ship, their operational status is unclear. 15/5/2024.
Check out this, RAND report on the aircraft carriers … 75% of cost is post launch.
Where would we use them? The obvious answer is in the South Atlantic, but would we get permission from the US to use the F-35s. Is there a use for the aircraft carriers in Europe?
Image Credit: By Petty Officer Photographer Jay Allen – via wikipedia – OGL 3