Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:23:19-2:24:08

A modern Queen Elizabeth would dominate the 1982 air war

The counterfactual demonstrates how stealth aircraft, airborne surveillance, and modern anti-submarine helicopters transform carrier warfare.

Carrier Air GroupsF-35BFalklands WarLive Q&AQueen Elizabeth Class Aircraft CarriersRoyal Navy
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

What would happen if a current Queen Elizabeth-class carrier were sent back to the Falklands War?

Short answer

With F-35Bs and Merlin helicopters, the carrier would rapidly overwhelm the 1982 Argentine air threat, assuming its present air group and support arrived with it.

Notes

The carrier's air group is central to the counterfactual. A Queen Elizabeth carrying modern F-35Bs, Merlin airborne-surveillance helicopters, anti-submarine aircraft, and commando support would possess capabilities far beyond those available in 1982. The Argentine air force would likely be neutralized very quickly in such a mismatch. The decisive capabilities come from the carrier's modern air group.