British debates over carriers revisit older claims that land-based aircraft can cover every overseas commitment. The Falklands provide a geographic challenge to that argument because suitable bases were unavailable for the aircraft under discussion. Strikes launched from Britain against Libya offer another example of the difficulty of operating from distant bases. In this view, an Atlantic focus still leaves a requirement to send a carrier group to the Far East when needed. Carrier aviation lets the fleet bring its air power to that commitment.
Notable Point · 2:16:28-2:19:12
Why distant air bases leave a role for carriers
The Falklands and Libya expose limits to claims of universal land-based air coverage and support the argument for retaining an expeditionary carrier capability.