Nab I'm not properly back yet. Grrrrrrr!!!
I asked the question about current ops to make a point. I am fully aware of the role of maritime logistics. My local paper has a story about some locally based Marines responsible for defending the vehicles ashore on the long drive from Karachi............the the RN is responsible for providing protection for them whilst still at sea.
Back to the CVF topic. So was main gate actually passed? If not, then when?
As for SAMs, surely CVF will use the SAMPSON radar (and other technologies borrowed from the T45 such as the command system) so it would just be a case of installing the laucher and magazine?
As for speed the MOD does indeed seem to have developed a worrying desire for slow(er) ships. Why can our amphibious ships only do 18 knots when there meant to be at the heart of our rapid reaction forces?A faster speed would have advantages for launching aircraft, particularly STOVL.