With a full buy of 138 F35s, and assuming 40% for attrition/maintenance/OCU, I make that enough to for 7 Sqns. Assuming both carriers operational with 1x RN* Sqn aboard, that assumes another 2 ashore for work-up, rotation and joint ops deployment. It would therefore seem possible to suggest an RAF wing available for surge carrier ops but otherwise used for current ops - which would fit in with replacing the GR4 wing at MR.
The question then being where will the 2/2 afloat/shore based be based? If would seem sensible to be based down south near the work up areas, but I'm not sure if YVL etc are in the frame to accept them?
*RN meaning RN name-plated. I am assume that, pending a miracle, all with be majority RAF manned for the foreseeable future with just a leavening of RN air and ground crew. How to rectify that economically is, thankfully, not my problem.
Last edited by ORAC; 23rd Nov 2015 at 17:52.