I think you’ll find that the RN really needs these two new carriers – the currrent strike capability (itself well modified over the years) is now over 20 years old and will struggle to keep up much beyond the next 10. Having signed up to a multi-million pound (GBP) contract to progress the next aquisition phase (which will incur significant infrastructure costs at build sites and integration yards) there’d be a lot of people questioning MoD’s strategy if it were to be a prolonged cancellation plan especially in light of the forthcoming Spending Review.

Delta,

Can you tell us what BA’s view on this is?

And as well as the ‘operating costs’ Moggy asked about what sort of figure would be required to get a Speedbird airworthy again?

As I understand it FSC is effectively on hold until certain other aspects of the RN orbat are determined e.g CVF, T45, MARS etc. once these are resolved then any required capability/effect not delivered by the rest of the Fleet would be rolled into the FSC. Hull form for FSC will be determined then .Meanwhile T23 (and T22) will be retained in service.