Twenty Five years ago today HMS
Sheffield was lost after being hit by an air launched Exocet. Lack of organic AEW was a major factor in her loss, which led to the crash development of the Sea King AEW2, so that low flying targets could be detected at ranges greater than those possible with shipborne radars.
Today we have the extremely capable systems fitted to the Sea King ASaCs, but lack carrier borne fighters.
This brings us back to MASC. Whilst it is natural that CVF is seen a being primarily a platform for F35, the ability to act as a platform for MASC will be just as important in some way, particularly with the age of network centricity (and a fleet smaller than it should be). Altenatively, carrying Merlin maritime helicopters may be what saves the day (making up for cuts in the fleet again), or transport and attack helicopters.