Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:36:25-2:37:16

Gannet AEW would be Ark Royal's decisive Falklands contribution

Detection and fighter direction matter more than the glamorous strike and fighter aircraft aboard a hypothetical Ark Royal.

Airborne Early WarningBlackburn BuccaneerF-4 Phantom IIFairey GannetFalklands WarHMS Ark RoyalLive Q&A
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Question

Which Ark Royal aircraft would have mattered most in the Falklands: Phantoms, Buccaneers, or something else?

Short answer

Phantoms and Buccaneers would help, but the Gannet airborne-early-warning aircraft supplied the most important capability.

Notes

Phantoms and Buccaneers had value, but the Fairey Gannet AEW platform supplied the decisive capability. Early warning would give the fleet more time to detect Argentine raids and direct fighters before attackers reached the ships. An enabling sensor aircraft can contribute more than additional weapons when the fleet's largest gap is awareness.