How national requirements distort warship and aircraft comparisons

Why do the Sea Vixen and Scimitar receive such poor reputations?

They are often judged against US Navy requirements instead of the different carriers and missions for which the Royal Navy selected them.

The discussion begins with the tendency of books to sell clear winners and disasters more easily than average, context-dependent designs. Historians also tend to compare foreign equipment with the needs of their own navy. The Sea Vixen and Scimitar can look weak against American carrier requirements while still fitting the Royal Navy's smaller decks and operational priorities. Small differences in doctrine, carriers, and intended missions can therefore justify large differences in the aircraft procured.