Originally Posted by
MSOCS
To add further to both WEBF and Frost's good posts, it's worth reminding folk that F-35B is not there to protect the fleet or the Carrier. Sure, if nothing else can provide AD then it will conduct DCA as a priority; in most circumstances it will be conducting strike, AI, CAS & ISR at range, and probably as part of a package.
Yes, you have to protect to project, but the protect function will be more logically covered by other fleet assets.
Well, therein lies an inherent tension between the RN and RAF. STRIKE will obviously be conducted, but DCA must be the primary purpose, if only because you can't STRIKE if your airfield is sinking.
And I suspect the clique that want to disembark at the earliest opportunity every time they see land may be a little disappointed.