New Carriers may not be operational until 2030
Is it only me who thinks that these carriers may never actually see service in their intended role?
Potential scenarios:
1. Carriers enter service and perform well, with the F35 proving a hit and everybody is happy, if not a bit poorer. The RN starts to lead the world again in fixed wing naval aviation.
2. F35 turns out to perform well and ahead of expectations, but only in RAF service as by then the money has run out and neither carrier goes to sea as intended, or do go to sea but rechristened and flying the flag of whichever BRIC nation could afford to purchase them off of the bankrupt UK PLC.
3. F35 turns out to be a dog of an aeroplane, jack of all trades, master of none and crippled by various design problems. The carriers meanwhile perform faultlessly as helicopter carriers, LHDs.
4. The F35 is a shambles as are the carriers, particularly where catapult operation is concerned. The UK comes up with some sort of deal to switch their F35s for the VTOL variant and make the best of it.