Why more Skyraiders would not automatically advance Shackleton AEW

Would acquiring the full planned Skyraider AEW fleet make the Shackleton AEW conversion arrive earlier?

Not automatically; the naval and RAF programmes were institutionally separate and would require unusually effective inter-service cooperation.

The answer separates equipment quantity from organizational responsibility. The additional AD-4W Skyraiders would belong to the Royal Navy, whereas the Shackleton AEW conversion was an RAF programme. Any acceleration would therefore depend on the two services coordinating requirements and resources rather than on a simple one-for-one technical link. The speakers are sceptical that such cooperation would happen smoothly enough to change the timetable.