Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 8:02:05-8:03:39

Would an international Invincible fleet make the 2010 disposal harder?

Multiple export customers would keep carrier and Sea Harrier production active, encourage repeat orders, and create an international support and weapons market.

Aircraft CarriersInvincible Class Aircraft CarriersJapan Maritime Self-Defense ForceNaval AlliancesRoyal Australian NavyRoyal NavySea Harrier
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

How much harder would disposal of Britain's Invincible-class carriers in 2010 be if several allied navies operated the class?

Short answer

A larger international carrier and Sea Harrier fleet would make disposal harder to separate from continuing production, support, and further orders.

Notes

The counterfactual gives Invincible-class carriers to several allied navies and asks whether British disposal in 2010 becomes harder. More ships would support a larger Sea Harrier fleet and a longer carrier production run. Australia and Japan are expected to seek additional hulls because a single carrier cannot provide dependable availability. Continued construction could also make HMS Ocean an amphibious derivative of the class. A wider customer base would create further opportunities for shared support and weapons purchases, including a proposed vertical-launch version of Sea Dart.