In this scenario, Australia would probably acquire three carriers, while Britain would retain four and could add a fifth after the Falklands War. India and Japan would likely become involved at some level. Japan might develop its own ship while adopting the Sea Harrier system and possibly producing the aircraft domestically. That possibility depends on more serious attention to sea-route threats and a sufficiently attractive cost of entry. The ships would be perceived differently from traditional carriers, which could affect their reception in Japan. This would bring Japan into that form of naval aviation earlier than the Izumo programme.
Notable Point · 1:25:18-1:26:47
Australia and Japan could extend the joint programme
Greater concern for trade-route security could encourage additional carriers and a Japanese route into Sea Harrier operations.