Crab Perspective
Not_a_boffin,
Slightly confused here. You see,
1. I am a Crab, and I have lots of crab mates.
2. I, and all my mates, think it was a Bad Thing to lose our carriers years ago and a Good Thing that we're getting carriers again.
3. We think that F-35C would be a better option than F-35B, and we're frankly astounded that a comparatively small investment decision like putting cats & traps on a (relatively) cheap ship should govern the (significantly more expensive) choice of aircraft. Our impression is that this was a decison by the relevant Capability Manager (note I don't say RN)
4. Most of all, we're confused by why loads of dark blue types go round peddling the line that the RAF doesn't want carriers (which we do) and how anyone thinks that the RAF as an entity could possibly affect a procurement decison by the JOINT staff concerned, which is mainly comprised of RN officers.
Could we just please all agree that carriers are one of the capabilities needed by UK defence and the RAF is not opposing that?