Albion and Bulwark: maintenance cycles and disposal decisions

Could the defense review result in more aircraft carriers?

Reversing the decision on Albion and Bulwark is the preferred near-term option; an increase in carriers is left unresolved.

In the February 2025 discussion, reversing the decision on Albion and Bulwark is preferred to hoping for additional carriers. The ships had alternated between service and maintenance. One had recently received an upgrade, making the prospect of disposal especially frustrating. The criticism concerns the loss of that investment as well as the ships' availability.