A carrier is a good (if expensive and slow) way of deploying a wing of 36 JSF, and of supporting and sustaining a paltry number of sorties for the five days required......
Jacko,
I am not sure it is that expensive and slow....how long does it take to build up a DOB to full operating capacity and be able to generate sorties at the same rate as the CVF? Chance are that the CVF will already be in theatre (or within 500 miles say) and well before any approval for HNS is given for a 36 a/c DOB.
I am not saying either is better, but CVF will give the government a day 1 capability, at a high sortie generation rate
regardless of HNS, whereas it could take weeks to build up to a 36 a/c DOB especially if strat/tac air is also supporting a land force build up at the same time. CVF gives the government options, whilst the politics continues, and clearly TB/GB understood/understand that.