Modern procurement often seeks one airframe that can perform many roles, gaining production scale and simplifying support. The 1994 air wing accepted that Prowlers and Intruders were specialists whose value did not depend on performing fleet air defense. A large deck could carry enough aircraft for each type to concentrate on its strongest mission. If every multirole fighter must be committed to air defense, the threat probably warrants multiple carriers rather than praise for a single airframe’s flexibility.
Notable Point · 1:13:18-1:15:49
Air-wing commonality can sacrifice specialist performance
A large carrier can support specialized attack and electronic-warfare aircraft instead of forcing one common airframe to perform every mission.