glojo, I'm not so sure the B is a great aircraft, except in a pure engineering sense. I, like pretty much everyone else, think we should be going with the C. As you pointed out that means that not only is the C a more capable aircraft but also you can operate fixed wing AEW/EW/transport/RPA.
The carriers will have AEW capability, but unfortunately it will be rotary based with all the downsides that brings (height, range, speed, endurance).
The QE class could go with an all F35 loadout but it isn't as simple as flying the helos off and landing JSF on. And as I said that isn't the currnt plan - it's not all about fast jets, helos bring an awful lot of flex and capability to the party. Look at all the examples in your earlier post and which would have been more useful a bunch of stealthy FJ or a bunch of helos? Just to clarify - I am a FJ guy and I can't quite believe I'm saying this!