How building CVA-01 would change Britain's next carrier generation

If CVA-01 had been built, would Britain replace it through a French partnership or with a CATOBAR version of the Queen Elizabeth class?

Britain would probably develop a separate CATOBAR successor, with planning in the 2000s and a larger deck to accommodate its future aircraft. The Type 82 escorts would also bring forward the need for a replacement escort program.

Two or three CVA-01 carriers built in the 1960s and 1970s would probably bring retirement decisions into the 2010s, although a government could try to extend their lives. Replacement planning in the 2000s would fall between Charles de Gaulle and the historical Queen Elizabeth design, favoring a separate British carrier. The Type 82 escorts would also need successors earlier than the historical Type 45 program because their construction preceded the Type 42s. Continuing CATOBAR operations would change the aircraft choices as well. Possibilities include an Anglo-American Super Hornet development, followed by F-35C and Hawkeye operations. Larger aircraft and a desire for more air-group capacity would favor a ship larger than Charles de Gaulle.