Tornado could take over maritime-strike tasks with Sea Eagle after the Royal Navy left the large-carrier business. That adaptation was necessary because the force had reorganised around a different way of delivering naval air power. Recreating carrier strike later meant recovering skills, support, and doctrine that could not be switched back on immediately. Local air defence near a task force is comparatively easier to sustain because aircraft operate close to their ships, whereas distant strike missions demand a deeper system of coordination and support.
Notable Point · 2:13:34-2:14:30
Carrier strike skills cannot be rebuilt at once
Once Britain reorganised maritime strike around land-based aircraft, restoring distant carrier strike required rebuilding an entire operating system rather than buying one aircraft type.