Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:14:02-1:15:02

F-35B and the value of multiple flight decks

A common short-takeoff aircraft becomes most valuable when carriers and amphibious ships can share it across several available decks.

Amphibious WarfareF-35BNaval AviationQueen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers
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Question

Should Britain have accepted F-35B and omitted catapults from the Queen Elizabeth class?

Short answer

Yes, if Britain also fields aviation-capable LHDs so one aircraft type can use multiple flight decks.

Notes

The F-35B choice makes strategic sense as part of a broader aviation fleet rather than as an isolated carrier decision. A catapult aircraft would tie the fixed-wing air group to the Queen Elizabeth-class decks, while separate amphibious ships would need a different aviation system. If Britain operated three aviation-capable LHDs alongside its two carriers, one short-take-off aircraft type could move between all five decks. That flexibility could keep at least two flight decks available and turn commonality into an operational advantage.