How happy would folks be if they had to operate this aircraft in contested airspace with little or no AEW capability?
We are all hearing how Crowsnest will be available sometime in the 'near future' but talk is cheap, deeds perhaps not quite as cheap and then how will that capability compare to a conventional fixed wing aircraft capability?
I am sure the T45 will give an adequate air early warning for those airborne threats that are kind enough to fly high enough to be detected but what about the threat that is not so obliging?
Will the carrier always have to operate under the protection of shore based assets or is it going to project power as per the First Sea Lords latest utterances.
Going slightly off topic, I was VERY surprised to hear these ships will be expected to operate with a crew of less than 700?? That would be an amaing achievement especially as they try to suggest this will be the numbers for when they are fully operational with a full complement of aircraft?