Catapult-equipped British carriers would probably bring a requirement for E-2 Hawkeye aircraft. In this scenario, Treasury pressure to fund only one airborne early-warning fleet could prevent the RAF buying E-7 Wedgetail. Hawkeye is valued for carrier operations, while Wedgetail is preferred for the larger air-defence theatre the RAF wants to manage. Treating both as interchangeable because they share an airborne early-warning role would overlook those different operating requirements.
Notable Point · 2:07:34-2:08:26
Hawkeye and Wedgetail in British carrier funding
A catapult carrier could affect the RAF's aircraft purchases if funding pressure forced a choice between carrier-based Hawkeye and land-based Wedgetail.