WEBF makes a good point:
We rely on vulnerable assets - yet lack the means to protect them.
It is madness to send a CVS into anything but the most benign environment without air (and surface and sub-surface and asymetric threat) defence. Neither the GR7 nor 9 are any more capable than a Hawk - and at least the Hawks can put a second pair of eyes on board! SAMs? OK if they're any good AND you have the ROE to use them WITHOUT taking the first hit.
As things stand, we will have CVS(s) that will only be able to go to sea in the most benign environment, or under the protection of the USN or NATO.
Dragging this back to the start of the thread, What little A-A capability is offered by the GR9 will only begin to be effective with the help of Freddie (though granted these are 'Joint' rather than RN ac). And then there are the helos (oh no, they're joint too!).