America is WAY too manpower intensive for the RN………And F-14s(god bless them) are just too old…….Would really like to see them as CTOL ships, but I think they make too inviting a target budget wise………..

It would be great if Germany built a carrier. Could call it Graf Zeppelin! Maybe get with the Brits and French and build a CVF…….Then they could buy Rafales………The French really need some one to buy those things! I don’t think the Dutch would ever spend the money for a carrier again. They had their day in the sun with the Karel Doorman.

Agree it would be tricky operating E-2s off Indian carrier………as to more F-16s for Pakistan……..It’s only 24 more,…..Pakistan isnt even in the same league as India. And as far as training goes…NOBODY beats the US Navy when it comes to training pilots to fly off ships! The French and Brazillians send their naval pilots to US cause we do it so well………But you bring up a good point……a carrier cappable trainer…….India gonna need one and the Hawk has been modified for carrier work(T-45 Goshawk). They could buy the Russian trainer(SU-25)……..I understand Indian Air Force is looking to buy 124? more fighters pretty quickly……..they looking at the Mirage 2000-5 (excellent plane) and poss the JAS-39? and maybe the MIG-29 or more SU-33s……..the F-16E block 60 or F-16C block 50 would be an excellent choice…….I wouldn’t recommend the Super Hornet (Hate that plane) but what bout the F-15E? Or maybe the F-35? But I would have to say that F-16s would be the cheapest solution, with the most capability offered.

So it’s ok for India to buy 40-60 SU-33s and 40 Mirage 2000s and 40 MIG-29s plus 60 naval MIG-29s, but if Pak wants another 24 F-16s its the end of the world?! Grow up!!! IF Pak and India EVER duked it out again, India would CRUSH Pakistan! By the way, we offering India F-16s as well. Also F-18E/Fs…….

Type 23……no question…..

The payload/range factors of CTOL aircraft are MUCH better than VSTOLs……so is the “bringback” capability……CTOLs are also more “rugged”….can take more battle damage……..I don’t believe you can have organic tanking with VSTOL…….all in all, My opinion is that CTOL(in the long run) is much more “flexible”, plus you have the worlds best carrier borne AEW aircraft available…E-2C……….

That war was such a perfect example of why we need navies………I really hope the Brits get their two new big carriers, but the way they keep cutting their deffence budgets…………