Just for balance: in terms of airframe numbers, the second tranche of 26 F35s is approved and funded. That will give a UK based fleet of 70, which is certainly enough to support the UK's current "ambition" of fielding one fully equipped carrier with a bit left over. And although escort numbers are tight at present, as a result of bad succession planning in the past, the UK does or certainly will have enough escorts to escort the carriers. Featuring other nations' escorts in a task group has long been standard practice - eg we, the French and the Dutch regularly feature in US carrier groups and they feature in ours. It makes geopolitical sense as well as aiding interoperability. I think I'm right in saying the F35B has range similar to the F18 and manoeuvrability similar to the F16, coupled with superlative sensors and a degree of stealth. Carrier quals are much easier to get and to maintain. Overall, for what the UK wants to do, it's a pretty good combination. I don't expect to persuade anyone, just to reinforce that there is no monopoly of views.