Why airborne early warning mattered in the Falklands

What would Ark Royal have added to the Falklands force?

Its greatest contribution would have been Gannet airborne early warning, which would improve warning, ship readiness, and fighter direction.

Ark Royal's Fairey Gannets could have provided the airborne early warning missing from the Falklands force. Earlier warning would have let escorts prepare against incoming Argentine aircraft and helped direct fighters to intercept them. Even an imperfect AEW platform would have improved greatly on having no coverage at all.