I fully appreciate the 'wow' factor in owning F35's. However, the bottom line is WE CANNOT AFFORD THEM. I wish we could, but reality has got to kick in.
To build massively expensive floating assets (carriers) and then purchase massively expensive aerial assets (F35's) to defend the massively expensive floating assets is madness.
We have to face facts, The UK can no longer be a major player on the World Stage. WE CANNOT AFFORD IT.
Look about you, smell the coffee.
We are currently in a conflict in which:
a. We don't have enough Helo capacity
b. We don't have enough AT capacity.
c. We don't have enough AFV capacity
We don't have the 'basics' because WE CANNOT AFFORD THEM.
So, I ask again
'Who the hell, in the future, do you think is going to be at that height to fight?'
because we won't be there because WE CANNOT AFFORD IT.