British back JSF option for future R.N. carriers

Sea Power, Aug 2001

Fears that the re-elected Blair administration will fund its ambitious spending plans by launching an attack on the armed forces are apparently without foundation. A government report leaked to the press in late June suggests that one of the two consortia competing for the planned future aircraft carriers (CVFs) will be downselected shortly. Many tJ.K. media commentators had assumed that the new U.S. Bush administration would cancel the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), forcing the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to follow suit by cancelling the two CVFs needed by the Royal Navy.

The good news from Washington about the JSF program continuing to receive funding generated optimism on the other side of the Atlantic, particularly because the MOD has invested heavily in JSF development. Both BAE Systems and its French rival, Thales, have confirmed that their CVF designs allow for a cancellation of the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the JSF.

Switching to another option at this stage is still possible in the design process. A reversion to conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft would result in an increase in CVF size to 60,000 tons, but this would not significantly affect overall cost, officials said.

Even if the JSF is cancelled the CVFs could operate the F/A-18E or F versions of the U.S. Super Hornet strike fighters, provided the decision is made early. All experience with previous CV and CVN designs indicates that last-minute changes to the composition of the air wing can play havoc with operational efficiency.