Amid all or the hype and confusion of non authorised Google Military articles
1. I still don't have a clear understanding if American F 35 [standard] aircraft could land on one of the new British Carriers, or would it only be the
STOVL F 35B variant?
2. The flight time of an F 35 aircraft [prepared for Combat] appears to be relatively short duration [2000 lbs of missiles or 2000 lbs of fuel], so would the US only deploy F 35B aircraft in a joint exercise with RO8 or RO9? [discounting air to air refuelling]
3. The opposite question must also be asked, in that do the decks of the Nimitz or Ford Class US Carriers have BBQ retardant panels to accept the F 35B
STOVL landing format?
4. Or does this mean that British F 35B pilots must attain both
STOVL and conventional flight deck landing & takeoff qualification?
5. Does the RAF have any operational aircraft to perform air to air refuelling?
6. Will the soon to be released Parliamentary White Paper make any recommendations that the RAN & RAF maintain presence by deploying a 20 km military territorial exclusion zone limit around your Island?
.....then hence no need for those expensive air to air petrol pumps and so save the British Tax payer squillions
The British and American media appear a little evasive [or deceptive]
about these matters Derek