Quote:
Originally Posted by baronWastelan
The decision will also mean an end to plans for joint-carrier operations with French and American ships as they are only equipped to handle conventional fighters. To take off and land on HMS Prince of Wales, the vessel needed to be fitted with a catapult system to launch the aircraft and a “trap” to slow planes down and stop them when they land.
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To be honest, it's that the scares me the most. I've never really liked the idea of the RAF having the F35 (although converting Typhoons for carrier operations isn't really an option either, the F35 just reminds me too much of the F111), but to not take the CTOL version and miss out on the opportunity to cooperate with the French would be a huge missed opportunity. We have the chance to begin serious European military cooperation with the French (obviously outside of NATO, but that doesn't count since it isn't European and also the 'pooling' they have there is extremely limited), and ok, it might incurr a massive cost in the short term, but if we could pool our carrier force together it would also make big savings in the long term. If we are going to take the F35, at least take the one that nets us the most benefits, even if it's at a greater short-term cost.