The earlier rotation logic can be applied to a Queen Elizabeth-class carrier embarking thirty-six F-35Bs. That total creates nine four-aircraft divisions. A combat air patrol and a strike cycle can each draw on aircraft in the air, on alert, recovering, or preparing below deck. Four divisions may therefore be in constant operational use even before maintenance and reserve demands are counted. A seemingly large embarked total translates into a much smaller number of continuously available mission packages.
Notable Point · 1:08:54-1:09:31
Thirty-six F-35Bs support overlapping CAP and strike cycles
Applying the squadron arithmetic to thirty-six F-35Bs shows how a carrier can maintain air defense and strike preparation at the same time.