Archaeologica.org

The UK light aircraft carrier Ark Royal was decommissioned and put on Ebay just last week, but it seems the Cameron government may have jumped the gun a bit, because now still more oil & gas have been discovered around the Falkland Islands. I.o.w. 'strategic interests' that need to be defended and protected (Argentine still asserts dominion over the 'Malvinas').

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11906367

So I expect the Ark Royal to be withdrawn from Ebay and recommissioned for the next decade (she was extensively overhauled in 2005) because replacing her with a new aircraft carrier would take 10 years and 10 times as much money, neither of which the UK can afford.

Isn't that design a tad obsolete?

Minimalist wrote:Isn't that design a tad obsolete?

Beggars can't be choosers.
And it's a lot better than anything Argentine can field.

OTOH: the Falkland Islands themselves are of course an excellent "aircraft carrier" (I've landed there in a 737...). So maybe a few patrolling guided missile frigates are enough to complement that. I think they still got a few of those.