Who would buy Prince of Wales after possible post-COVID defence cuts, and which British service was most exposed?
Short answerA sale was considered unlikely, while the Army appeared more vulnerable because several programmes were exposed to cancellation.
NotesA sale of Prince of Wales after COVID-related defence cuts was considered unlikely in this 2020 forecast. The Royal Navy appeared less exposed to reductions than another service whose programmes were receiving adverse press coverage. Some of those programmes had reached points where cancellation would impose little additional cost. A later question identifies the Army as the service thought most vulnerable. These were expectations based on contemporary procurement signals, with neither a carrier sale nor a settled pattern of cuts established.