Such ships (ship? singular?) will serve both purposes (logistic transport and assault , if need be) for many years on a relatively economic budget. Just as they did for the Marine Nationale and french foreign policy for three decades.

It looks like the French ships will prove to be a useful asset. Do you think something like the INCAT military catarmarans would be suitable for Argentina, they seem like an ideal peacekeeping platform. http://www.incat.com.au/defence_fs.html

I would say that the real cost effectiveness comparison is between the JASSM, the new “half price” Tomahawk Block IV, the SLAM-ER and even the SDB.

Why?

Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) http://www.missilesandfirecontrol.com/our_products/strikeweapons/JASSM/product-jassm.html
STORM SHADOW / SCALP EG http://www.mbda.net/site/FO/scripts/siteFO_contenu.php?lang=EN&noeu_id=120
TAURUS KEPD 350 http://products.saab.se/PDBWeb/ShowProduct.aspx?ProductId=641

The JASSM will probably be built in the highest numbers and get the most development so it will probably end up as the cheapest and most effective.

Steve, you are using the rather weak argument of a slight increase in sorty rate, and the ability to carry a negligible number of extra aircraft to make up for the massive loss in capability a STOLV carrier has in comparison to a CTOL carrier-it simply dosnt work.

No I’m not, I was disagreeing with EdLaw’s claim that CTOL carrier ops are faster and easier.

The only loss of capability from operating STOVL JSF’s instead of CV JSF’s is that you can’t drop certain weapons at certain ranges. Solutions to this problem include aerial refuelling and long range UCAVs.

It has to be remembered that not all targets will be able to be attacked by a CV JSF either so I wouldn’t label STOVL as a ”massive loss in capability”.

Just a thought, but if you compare the dimensions of the AGM-124 and the new Netfires missiles (PAM and LAM), they are very close. Just think if they brought back the dispenser pod, and filled them with Netfires missiles – the A-10 was to be capable of carrying at least four, maybe even six of the pods – it would allows strike aircraft to pack a massive punch! A JSF might be able to carry four pods, allowing 48 missiles!

Nice idea, what do the Netfires missiles look like?

It seems very spacious, but bear in mind how few planes are shown parked on deck. If the RN only embark the small numbers of aircraft they are proposing, then I agree, there will be quite a lot of deck space left over, but that is not necessarily a good thing…

LOL, some people are never satisfied 🙂

STOVL CVF with more JSF’s and less deck space available 😉

The difference is the length of deck needed. With the cats, you can hook up a new aircraft for launch in ~30-60 seconds, since the next aircraft can be in position behind the blast deflectors. With STOVL, the aircraft need to be taxied a greater distance, and still have a longer takeoff run. The result of this length of takeoff is that you must park the aircraft on the bow and aft (or in the hangar). With CTOL, you can park an entire Alpha strike aft, simply bringing the aircraft forward for launch. This results in faster takeoffs.

Even on the cramped deck of HMS Invincible 16 STOVL Harriers were launched in 13 minutes, this figure will be much improved on the larger CVF.

This is the caption for the pics from http://www.defenceimagedatabase.mod.uk/fotoweb/Preview.fwx?position=43&archiveType=ImageFolder&sorting=ModifiedTimeAsc&search=aircraft%20carrier&fileId=B6E9CD48D1591A71D2BAC0C6DD390583719F9A47B8A87FE19174F2E435DB95BEAA5F8960ED64D1217F850DB1B9EE274C51CF7623777689D1AD29B9CBD5ADB7112AA2263182C40EC0B0EF6B45BCAB3A32329D7D78C5EFEE42D205B90EAAEB619B89B0CAB215FAF59A4F377BD3A668D3BE8CFEF402BF6F6ED2BC0D329FB519B63F3CF694E6369BA54C

Earlier today, a total of 7 GR7 Harrier aircraft from No 3(F) Squadron Royal Air Force and 9 FA2 Sea Harriers from 800 and 801 Naval Air Squadrons launched from HMS INVINCIBLE in the space of 13 minutes. This is believed to be the largest ever single launch of Harrier aircraft from an INVINCIBLE -class aircraft carrier. All but 2 of the sixteen aircraft were all launching to return to their respective bases after an intensive 3-week period of carrier flying operations. 3(F) Squadron, which is based at RAF Cottesmore, Rutland, is half way through a busy 6-week period training its 18 pilots and 83 maintenance personnel to operate from an aircraft carrier at sea. Many of the squadron members had participated in live operations in the Middle East earlier in 2003, but few had experienced maritime operations previously. The most demanding aspect of the embarkation proved to be engineering support as, although the FA2 and GR7 were originally based upon a similar basic design and still share the same Rolls Royce Pegasus engine, they have different engineering procedures, major mission systems and roles. Far more used to operating from aircraft carriers, the Sea Harrier squadrons have been continuing their training and have achieved a great deal since first embarking in March following the ship’s refit.