"NATO First" UK NUCLEAR STRIKE Aircraft Less Emphasis on UK Carriers

Shawn C. made some interesting comments on July 16, 2025. My response on carriers, aircraft and "NATO First" is: 

With the rise of expensive UK RN nuclear submarines the UK turned away from full size carriers for decades until the Queen Elizabeth (QE)-class emerged in 2017-2023. The preceding half or 2/3rds size Invincible-class carriers only had fairly small airwings (of RN Harriers). In the Falklands War the non-Invincible-class Hermes needed to be supplemented by carrier based RAF Harriers. 

So far the Queen Elizabeth (QE)-class, including HMS Prince of Wales, only have half (or less) of a full airwing of UK F-35Bs. That number may remain low because UK carriers are poorly adapted to the Russian threat in Europe and given emerging UK "NATO First" policies. Rather the QEs may have been designed mainly for counter-insurgency airstrikes - a declining mission for the UK. Since June 2025 (see 1/3rd down here) there has also been a pause on buying new F-35Bs for carriers. 

Other "NATO First" priorities may see the low numbers of UK surface ship escorts continue. The UK relies heavily on foreign escorts and US Marine F-35Bs for its carriers when UK carriers are in the Indo-Pacific.

NUCLEAR STRIKE AIRCRAFT

Announced by the UK Government on June 24, 2025 NATO First will include 12 new F-35As for the RAF for NUCLEAR STRIKE by 2030. The "nuclear" F-35As are instead of the original intention of buying 12 new conventionally armed F-35Bs for UK carriers. 

UK defence policy toward the Russian threat will include more conventionally armed F-35s as UK Typhoons are gradually retired over several decades. This may mean more than 100 F-35As or at least a mixture of 138 F-35As and Bs. Scroll a third way down here. F-35As carry a greater war load over longer ranges than F-35Bs, if As and Bs are not mid-air refueled. 

Also the UK Army needs expansion for anti-Russia European wars, particularly in armoured vehicles, artillery and small drones. 

More UK money spent on military aid to Ukraine may also mean less UK money available for the conventionally armed AND conventionally powered UK RN.