Would the Italian Trieste be a suitable basis for an F-35-capable Royal Navy amphibious ship?
Short answerYes, after enlarging it for a bigger hangar, more maintenance space, and better North Atlantic and long-range deployment performance.
NotesTrieste works well for Italian requirements, while the Royal Navy routinely plans for long deployments with little local support. A British version would need a longer hull, larger hangar, and more maintenance space to sustain additional aircraft. The changes also reflect harsher North Atlantic conditions and the distance of British expeditionary missions such as the Falklands.