FB11 - Interesting points . My knowledge of the Sea Harrier airframe stems from a knowing the structure quite well of it's very close relative the GR.3. There wasn't really a sensible option
of doing any serious amount of engine upgrades to the Sea Harrier simply because they would shake themselves to death even more.
As for the first strike capability of the F-35 - interesting idea but the reality is that the high value targets would have already have been taken out by 'son of Predator'. Add to that the
capability of submarine launched missiles and the need for a stealthy F-35 becomes somewhat questionable.
Whilst the notion that the CAP was always only there to take out incoming and basically a protective force for the carrier group - past experience in the Falklands War showed the ability
of aircraft like the Sea Harrier to intercept ELINT aircraft whilst on the way to the islands.
I would love to think that the need for dedicated CAP machines to defend the fleet has gone but we seem to be the only nation to adopt that view and in some ways it's a bit like leaving the back door unlocked at night - you might be alright
but then again you might not!