Equipment timelines matter as much as desired end states. The planned transition would have phased out upgraded Harriers as F-35Bs entered service, but the Harriers retired early while the replacement aircraft kept their original delivery schedule. The subsequent Libya campaign used Apaches from HMS Ocean and aircraft flying across Europe for land-based strikes. Rebuilding carrier strike with F-35Bs and the Queen Elizabeth class then became more expensive. F-35B is accepted as the better aircraft, and Tornado as the better land-strike aircraft, but those comparisons do not remove Harrier's distinct carrier role. Treating Harrier and Tornado as interchangeable competitors concealed the different options lost by retiring one fleet.
Notable Point · 2:39:24-2:42:47
Do not retire old capability before its replacement arrives
Retiring Harrier before the planned F-35B deliveries removed carrier options and made later regeneration more expensive.