After deployment to Cyprus without a full long-term maintenance facility, British F-35Bs had to return to RAF Marham for work instead of joining a carrier. Britain's own full-maintenance locations are Marham and the two Queen Elizabeth-class carriers, while other capable land bases in the country are operated by the United States. Sending an aircraft forward does not make it available for the next mission if the destination cannot sustain it. Carrier readiness therefore depends on land-based maintenance capacity as well as the number of jets purchased.
Notable Point · 1:43:13-1:46:01
F-35 maintenance capacity limits carrier readiness
The number of F-35Bs available to a carrier depends on land-based deep maintenance capacity as well as the aircraft inventory.