Quite funny actually (or maybe the fact that it isn't funny at all) is that it seems that the Falklands where invaded just after the British MoD had announced that it would scrap the plans for the Fleet Carriers and it's escorts... Let's hope that is not the case this time. No but really, how are they going to pull that of with NO air support at all, if the Falklands get attacked within two years time?
The presence of No. 1435 Flight at RAF Mount Pleasant is a deterrent in and of itself.
Stuart Slade also explained that
Queen Elizabeth will be built with a skijump, and an initial air wing of helicopters, temporary deployments of USMC Harriers. After
Prince of Wales is launched (in CATOBAR configuration),
Queen Elizabeth will go into refit, have her skijump removed, and have both a catapult and arrestor wires installed. After she comes out of refit,
Queen Elizabeth and
Prince of Wales will alternate positions (one being in extended readiness and the other being ready to deploy), althought both could be surged out in the event that they are both needed.