Well the JW2020 is to test the practice and theory behind the QE concept, this is almost like a dress rehearsal for deployment to the South China Sea, the reality is if I recall only the UK Italy and Spain that will operate the F35B and the UK doesn't work with them as much as we do with the USN (USMC), KoninKlijke Marine or Marine National.
What JW will be doing in this instance will be certifying the carrier fit for operations I have no doubt there is a FOST crew on her assessing the crew, they don't require a full airwing compliment to do this and the main thing is the airwing will only consist of around 35 in normal operations, up to 65 in war time.
With the surge force that will be between the European forces not just the USMC but agreed we could deploy with other forces mainly USMC, should we have done so on this exercise, no I don't think so this is more to test the carrier systems and crew operations not the flying.
As for being cash strapped not really the UK's RN is quite well funded, yes we have cut some corners but in terms of cash strapped totally disagree the amount of operations and commitments we have around the world shows one thing the RN isn't lack is money.
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