Perhaps 809 was chosen because its main purpose was attacking the enemy.....buccaners etc the F35 primary mission although can do a lot more than that ?????

When the river b1 needs replacing could building a couple of extended versions with a telescopic hanger be the ansaw ? embark a wildcat & flight if needed - if not you still have your deck space for containers etc then a couple of b2 rivers can replace the b1 duties while the new build telescopi...

Maybe they think there will be delay to MAWS & are hedging their bets.... i can see a demand for second hand poseidons next decade as all the orions will be totally nakerd ! maybe even the UK could buy some to increase our numbers on the cheap :D would of been better if the line meshed & we ...

after we get our 3 delivered - what are chances of ordering a couple more in early 2030's of the "hot" american production line to make the numbers up to the original 5 wanted ? as presumably they will be a bit cheaper...

The doubts on the ECR version isnt if it is possibile, but at which cost. I really dont see the German Taxpayer accepting to pay more money for the ECR version when the F-35 is cheaper. Producing an ECR version would be absurdly expensive, I think. For such a proposal to be considered, the cost sho...

Gtal has a point of our UK cuts in our forces though hope the GCAP heralds a stronger commitment to our forces & industrial benefit

Didn't they design a shorter mistral aswell ? i can understand why a 3rd smaller flatop could be handy to replace both the albions - just for drones & helos

Yeh the decision to get rid of the FA2 by the RN was a bad decision - but saved money, would be good to some harriers on the deck of a QEC ! 1st time ? along with the italian F35...

Probably stow most of the airframes in the hanger or the stern when operating MQ9b - lots of clearence... got to be atlest 40m width clear flightdeck excluding the islands from a 70m width ????

well the bean counters would love a cheap frigate like that F185 ! wasnt that proposed for the T31? maybe a under 100m version with a telescopic hanger + crane with a bigger workspace that can carry a wildcat if needed...

Could a blimp type unmanned system be used to carry the signal over the horizon ? 300k & 2k altitude for example ?

im eager to see a NSM test fire from her

Na just build it france & double the price for the EU....+ the french could charge a training fee until its up to speed

Thanks for explaning the upgrade path, as you mention, definatly better than thought

Taking a page from the UK playbook !

Could that mean the oZ gov might build ( to get the experience & skillset ) for example 4 or 5 T31 then when their "Hunter" design is finalised build the complex/expensives ships later ?

Would it be a good idea to de-spec the hunter class to broardly RN spec but with CAMM-ER & except that its primary focus will be ASW ? that may save a bit of wonga.....

extending the OSD seems to the norm lately ! so with the AUKUS deal high on the list im confident a extra boat will be on the list (preferably 2) of needs...

It does look like a steady drumbeat of building to retain skills does work ! who knew

Would the drone be more limited by weather than a merlin aswell ? on the flip side though - the drone is way more expendable the crew of the merlin ! but would still like to have J -ASROC weopon for speed, more options are good to have in a potential life & death situation

Did i also read that there is a lack of space at Marham for future 'Lots' of F35 ?

ps in one proposal i seem to remeber the QEC carriers having the radar & Viper missile system like the T45 but was omitted as it was huge electronic "bullseye" & to expensive a & overkill as on deployment the would be escouted by T45, not to mention the extra cost to man & ...

Money - or lack of it ....... also as mentioned since the risk is tiny that she would need her CIWS back, why delay her SRVL trials trip anymore, when QE is on actual deplyment with f35 etc & is the 'on call' carrier, in a ideal world im sure things would be different as anticipated in the 90/20...

When the Tempest program starts showing its full potential late this decade or early 2030, perhaps the raf will offer up lightnings to the RN in exchange for the funds for the potential xtra f35b to be transfered to tempest product airframes.....but if the FAA get the 48 f35b that will a huge drain ...