Replacing the Invincible class with only two Queen Elizabeth-class hulls concentrates capability but limits the fleet's breadth. Maintenance, readiness, and simultaneous commitments become harder to manage when there are only two large flight decks. Additional defence funding might therefore support more aviation-capable hulls, possibly landing helicopter dock ships rather than another full carrier. Aircraft capacity and fleet presence are separate problems: one large carrier can operate many aircraft, but it cannot provide another hull where the navy needs one.
Notable Point · 11:31-12:19
Why two carrier hulls leave little fleet breadth
Before the CATOBAR question, the discussion explains why a two-carrier fleet may still need additional flight decks, potentially in the form of amphibious assault ships.