Hi ICBM,
Are some folks looking at this from a pure aircraft question?
We have all debated what the advantages\disadvantages of the aircraft are, but as has been discussed several times an aircraft carrier is more than an airfield, the carrier is a mobile fist or embassy, that can offer tact or diplomacy. The aircraft it carries must be capable of not just acting in a strike role, they also must be capable of defending its battle group.
If we look at what a STOVL ship offers compared to a conventional carrier then are we getting good value?
If next week, or next month the word from on high comes down and decrees that we go for the F-35B then the ships will be built without EMALS.. They will then only be capable of operating the F-35B or rotor...
If we stay as we are and the complete F-35 program gets cancelled then the conventional carrier will still have fast jet capability... be that the F-18 or the Rafale. If we opt for the -B and the program gets cancelled then goodbye fast jet capability... Game over and definitely no coming back.
I have said it so many times regarding what a conventional carrier brings to the table but if we go for the -B then do we go for a variant of Merlin for AEW if so how does that compare to the E-2? How many Merlin would be required to give similar cover to that which the E2 offers. How far from the battle group would the Merlin operate and at what height?
Choosing the aircraft has to be done alongside of choosing the type of base it operates from. Should we learn from previous conflicts and if so what lessons can be learnt from the Falklands where Harriers sometimes only had a 10 minute ability to remain over target before having to return back to their carriers, no tanking ability, back home to refuel. AEW, AEW and AEW.... The importance of that asset cannot be emphasised enough and the days of surface skimming missiles coming in from a maximum of 50 miles are over. Is the helicopter AEW capability good enough to detect long range incoming surface missiles and would we then need several aircraft to give adequate cover? Would choosing the -B prevent the Royal Navy from having the AEW cover it would need for any future conflict?