Just thinking out loud here but...
The FAA have two flat tops they can deploy on - one of which is usually tied up alongside or acting as a Helicopter carrier when JHC require it. Why then do we requre at present 2 Squadrons of 9 Harriers? 12 aircraft is nearing the Max that you can put on one flat-top anyway so for the FAA to meet its RN commitments it has more than enough aircraft. Land deployment at present requires a presence of JFH in Afganastan. Surely this could be covered by Jaguar or RAF Harriers? The FAA Like the RAF have taken a real hit with respect to manpower and it will probably take longer to recover. However I do not see how they cannot meet the maritime committments at least. What may be open to debate is that if the FAA can meet all its commitments with a pool of 12 aircraft and presumably a comensurate drop in manpower then there will surely be questions asked as to why the RAF part of JFH cannot do the same?