Helicopter airborne early warning would still provide useful coverage for a carrier unable to operate Hawkeye. In this account, the Sea King AEW design and radar were ready before the Falklands War and needed installation on airframes. The panel argues that delaying that capability contributed to the loss of ships and lives. Four AEW Sea Kings would form part of the proposed 24-helicopter air group. Carrying more aircraft aboard the warships would also reduce the load assigned to Atlantic Conveyor. The suggestion that AEW could have prevented Atlantic Conveyor's loss remains a counterfactual judgment.
Notable Point · 4:27:10-4:29:26
Why helicopter early warning mattered to the Invincible proposal
Helicopter airborne early warning could protect a carrier unable to operate Hawkeye, and the panel argues that the available Sea King option should have entered service earlier.