British aircraft planning could assume that shore-based aircraft were the main aerial threat near home waters. An enemy fleet carrier would create a direct requirement for improved carrier fighters and strike aircraft. That requirement would weaken the argument that no opposing carrier air group justified a succeeding generation of Fleet Air Arm aircraft. The procurement case for a new generation would become harder to dismiss before combat.
Notable Point · 5:12-5:38
A carrier opponent strengthens the case for modern Fleet Air Arm aircraft
The absence of a likely enemy carrier weakened pressure for a new British carrier-aircraft generation; Graf Zeppelin would remove that assumption.