3. The F35 force is still building up. You could deploy a CSG now, but you'd disrupt the painfully slow move to FOC. Given 1 and 2 above, is that disruption worth it at this time?
Absolutely not.
I also thought AVM Bell should be aware of the fact that. 'The first RAF F-35B operational sorties were flown on Sunday 16 June (2019) in support of Operation Shader, the UK contribution to the Global Coalition’s counter Daesh mission in Iraq and Syria. The two aircraft conducted a patrol over Syria, and UK F-35s have flown a further 12 sorties since then.'
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/h...ional-missions