British naval flagship left two-thirds empty as RAF fighter jets slashed from carrier
Royal Navy Aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth arrives back into Portsmouth harbour after a visit to the United States
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Britain's naval flagship has been left two-thirds empty after the number of RAF fighter jets onboard the carrier were slashed.
HMS Queen Elizabeth can hold 36 F-35B Lightning jets.
It was designed to carry as many as 24 planes on operation.
However, the 920-foot-long vessel currently holds eight fifth-generation fighters during its patrol around Norway and the North Atlantic.
WATCH NOW: RAF F-35 Lightnings in full flight
More than 40 aircraft were onboard America’s USS Gerald R Ford during its visit to Scandinavia earlier this year.
MPs were recently warned the number of planes in the RAF was “nosediving” following “deeply damaging cuts”.
The retirement of the C-130J Hercules fleet was criticised.
The decision to downsize the E-7 Wedgetail procurement programme from five to three was also identified as a problem.
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A pair of F-35B Lightning II jets on the flight deck during Queen Elizabeth II's visit to HMS Queen Elizabeth at HM Naval Base, Portsmouth
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Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon, the former head of the RAF, said: “I think the RAF would be hard pressed to field 100 Typhoons fully battleworthy in a major conflict.
“It’s a very good aeroplane and it’s doing a cracking job.
“But it’s being asked to cover everything from the Falklands to the Baltics to the Middle East.
“That’s not even counting their primary duty of defending and securing UK airspace.”
F-35B Lightning II jets during a rehearsal for the official coronation flypast, at RAF College Cranwell, Sleaford, Lincolnshire
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Admiral Lord West, the former head of the navy, added: “Do you see the American carriers running around with a few on board? They have their aircraft carriers full. It’s a carrier deck packed with aircraft that terrifies people. That’s what makes Putin nervous.”
An MoD spokeswoman said: “The number of aircraft deployed on the carrier is decided by a variety of operational factors including the anticipated threat, aircraft needed for the deployment task and the requirement to continue to train personnel at RAF Marham to expand the Lightning force.
“This year UK F-35s have been exercising with Nato, US and European partners and have deployed once more on our aircraft carriers.
“We remain committed to growing the F-35 fleet with more to be delivered this year.”
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