A common V/STOL flight-deck fleet for Britain

The proposed British force paired two strike carriers with roughly three landing helicopter docks, producing five decks able to operate the same V/STOL fighters, helicopters and AEW aircraft. The carriers and amphibious ships would retain their main roles while being able to cover one another in an emergency. Fighters could refuel and rearm on an LHD instead of returning to the carrier whenever the amphibious group needed stronger combat air patrols. Shared aircraft would also allow RAF F-35Bs to reinforce the deployed force, following the precedent of RAF Harriers in the Falklands. The financial argument concerns the whole force: CATOBAR carriers require a different air group, and their cost could reduce the number of amphibious flight decks Britain could afford. Five compatible decks offered a way to support a medium power's global commitments. By the time that concept had been diluted, converting the Queen Elizabeth class to CATOBAR would have meant changing an advanced design. Studies were considering launch arrangements for UAVs and optionally crewed aircraft, but their adoption remained uncertain.