In an earlier post, FF said:
And where is the Carriers AAR support going to fly from? E3Ds? ASTOR? R1s etc?
Carrierborne aircraft will need less tanker support due to being nearer to the area of operations. I'm sure I've read somewhere that FSTA will cost more than CVF, which is incredible! But since you've mentioned it, why not convert some F35s to act as "buddy buddy" tankers? In the old days weren't some Buccs used in an AAR role?
MASC will provide many of the capabilities of the E3D and ASTOR. As for R1 (I assume you mean the Nimrod R1) you may have a point, but there are platforms other than aircraft that can perform an ELINT role.
CVF is absolutely critical to the
Navy's Strategic Plan(s).
So is MASC, which does not appear to get the attention it deserves. In the last few years the fleet has been cut a lot, and one of the assurances given by Ministers was that "due to increased interconnectivity.........blah blah blah". But without excellent sensors this will count for nothing. The more capable MASC is the more capable the Fleet and Joint Forces operating with it will be.