UK carrier aviation has gone through some remarkable twists and turns, but this takes the cake, the plate and the little plastic bride and groom on top.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/mod-...rcraft-at-sea/
Given the last time we went through this, lo, a decade ago, "3-5 years" sounds like the result of inhaling fungal fumes, unless somebody has come up with a miracle solution and this RFI is the kind you write when you know who's going to deliver the only valid response.
The weight limits say "definitely not FJs" unless the RN plans to buy Sea Gripen. More like a recognition that in the era of manned-unmanned teaming, the RN will be excluded unless people build STOVL UAVs, which is unlikely.