Balancing carrier air groups and shore training

How many F-35Bs would Britain need to equip its carriers while retaining aircraft for land-based training?

About ninety-six would support two large carrier allocations and a shore element, while routine deployments would probably carry fewer fighters alongside helicopters.

A force of about ninety-six F-35Bs could put thirty-six aircraft on each carrier and retain twenty-four ashore for training. Deploying both carriers with full strike groups would be unusual. A more typical proposed air group has thirty-two F-35Bs and twenty-four Merlins, with space for sixteen additional fighters in a surge. The total aircraft purchase therefore has to cover shore training and support as well as the aircraft embarked at any one time.