All that written, here's a video to excite the imaginations, and consider that the equation may well change at some not so distant future point:
?si=9On593blvAiAkinc Previous Message
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I have no idea what the USN's real thoughts are, but they have their own experience of operating F-35s off Amphibs, and a lot of info of operating them off the RN's QE and POW.
The QEs were designed for Amphibious Assault support and low intensity medium range attacks.
HOWEVER, since their design aerial drones have become much more important and I would GUESS that an updated version would have to use CTOL long range drones. So an angled deck, at least one catapault, and possibly most important a very large hangar, if not double-decked hangars (depending on how drone design goes).
Some "blue-sky / sea" thinking is required.
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