Load of bollocks and RN/MOD spin
This is to justify a multimillion £'s refit and allow the RN to continue flitting around the world, showing the flag, and hosting cocktail parties
This ship should have been 'worked up' and sent to war
Why the need for an 'exercise' to 'demonstrate' potential co-operation in 'joint operations' with an ac that has a bad history of crashes and fatalities, even on land
Next will be the need to combat the effects of terrorism, drug running, bi-lateral agreements-shared interests blah blah, when this supposed "1st Rate Ship of the Line" should be where it's needed, in the Gulf, not fannying about off the eastern seaboard of the US
How about a £350m refit for the ex Royal Yacht to be a 'hospital ship'
, which could also take an Osprey on the cocktail deck to deliver and evacuate the drunks to and from the party?