Britain or France might hesitate to begin nuclear-carrier programs today if they did not already possess substantial nuclear infrastructure. France's future-carrier debate and Britain's Queen Elizabeth-class design studies show how the propulsion decision reaches far beyond the machinery spaces. A nuclear CATOBAR carrier could operate a wider range of aircraft, including the E-2 Hawkeye, and gain useful air-wing capabilities. Those benefits still have to justify the very high construction, operating, training, and support costs of the nuclear option.
Notable Point · 12:07-13:10
Nuclear carrier costs and air-wing options
British and French carrier choices show how existing nuclear infrastructure, catapult operations, and air-wing flexibility must be weighed against enormous lifetime cost.