I know this is posted on all the other Harrier / Carrier debates but the 1SL does concede that the AD elements could have only been launched from shore based assets.
Prolonged Libya effort unsustainable, warns Navy chief | UK news | The Guardian
So as ever, if money permits, having a good mix of capabilities is a good thing.
But we dodn't have the cash at the time of SDSR (which was pre-Libya)