Unfortunately, if it happens it will be a long way away. Probably it would make sense to soldier on with the CdG for the next 15 years and then plan a 2 ship build like the QE to replace the CdG slightly ahead of time, or when one of her expensive refuels is due. Unfortunately, that plan would negate some of the…

Fincantieri have been heavlly involved with the Vikrant. There has been a lot of speculation that given the size of the contract that was awarded to them that the design is essentially theirs.

The CdG seems to have had a lot of bad luck, but seems to have also suffered from a bad design. She took 7 years from completion to commissioning. She’s not spent a huge amount of time at sea or on ops, but instead has been tied up getting repairs and upgrades on a very frequent basis. The propellors have had to be…

The Vikraiditya certainly was challenging in the conversion, I do wonder if the Indian Navy would do it again after the massive cost increases and delays. I suspect not. If it had come in on time and budget you could have argued that design oddities like the island were acceptable given the cost. It’s the last time a…

Have you seen the size of the US escort fleet? You don’t have the numbers to have escort groups across the globe as a carrier switches between areas (and that doesn’t happen too often anyway). In a war who exacly is escorting the carrier as it transits? When was the last time a US carrier made a mad dash like that?…

A couple of reasons. Seperating Flyco and ship control is useful. Essentially the bridge is good forward, the flyco is better sited to the rear. A single island tends to be a compromise for one or both. But the main reason is for the uptakes for the gas turbines, the redundancy is just a bonus.

The America class might not. But it’s worth noting that the QE class will have a sortie rate that will match a Nimitz with more aircraft on board. One of the advantages of STOVL is much higher sortie rates.

AOR’s are pretty cheap. But nuclear carriers are no more capable than any other at staying at sea for long periods. It’s not the fuel that makes them return to base, it’s maintenance, and crew fatigue.

Your wish is my command...aircraft carrier size comparison..

The French plans for a second carrier (PA2) are as dead as can be, and have been for some years.

Your argument is one that is often used to justify nuclear powered carriers. Some of it is true. The arguments for nuclear powered submarines are pretty bullet proof. Nuclear power really does make a submarine a true submersible (AIP is not a true substitute). But the reasoning behind a nuclear powered carrier falls…

I thought most of the assistance was from the Italians.

It’s been tried many times before and each time has been an absolute stinker. You end up with a jack of all trades master of none.

it has a flight deck only marginally smaller than a Nimitz class and a very large hanger. Realistically though, a bigger air group than 36 F-35 and 8 Merlins could be accommodated but would after an initial burst lead to a loss in efficiency.

Better not fly in a Boeing or Airbus then...they’re full of British electronics, come to think of it so are F-16’s and F-35’s....

Not sure what you mean by the QE class are far slower. Top speed of a Nimitz is about 31 knots max (they’re slower than the Forrestal class). Don’t believe the Red Storm Rising nonsense about them hitting 40 knots, its absolute rubbish. HMS Queen Elizabeth or Prince of Wales are yet to go to sea, but the MoD has…

The Chakri Nareubet has some old ex Spanish Navy AV-8’s (and god knows how few of them are servieceable) and leaves port at most for 1 day per month, most of the time shes tied up.

I think Tyler is suggesting buying the design off the UK. The QE class are built in blocks so a lot more US yards could compete for work as well as Newport News. Smaller nuclear subs don’t come cheaper unfortunately, the French learnt that lesson with the Rubis class. There is a reason why everyone goes bigger when…

The UK spends 2% of GDP on defence and is buying 2 carriers. They can look after themselves. The Swedes used to be tooled up to the nines, but have definitely slipped back. The good news is, is that Putin is focusing some minds at present in NATO.

If a customer chooses Rolls Royce engines on an Airbus over 55% of the content by value is from the UK. The UK aviation industry is massive still and is in rude health.