It gets even worse for the Royal Navy because they have issues building their replacement:

Quote:

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In a trading update on Wednesday, Babcock said: "During the outfitting stage we have experienced higher-than-expected levels of rework as a result of design changes and the long-term impacts of out-of-sequence build activity earlier in the programme.
"Whilst the number of such rework events is not entirely unexpected, the work is being performed in the later stages of completion and therefore is more complex and more costly."

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https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/377b1ca9a8464972

The Royal Navy just keeps making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Now they spares problems for the F-35.

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The letter, dated 30 April 2026 and written by Permanent Secretary Jeremy Pocklington, was sent in response to the PAC's October 2025 report on the UK's F-35 stealth fighter capability. It reveals that during Operation HIGHMAST, the UK surged 24 F-35B aircraft onto a Queen Elizabeth-class carrier despite the Afloat Spares Pack being sized to support only 12 aircraft.
The shortfall was mitigated by drawing on the Deployable Spares Pack and taking additional spares from the RAF Marham Base Spares Pack, while maritime logistics challenges occasionally led to missed resupply opportunities during the deployment.
PAC Chair Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown did not hold back in his response. "At the heart of any military planning is sound logistics. The UK sent an aircraft carrier with 24 F-35 fighter jets on it to the Middle East with not enough spare parts to support them. Twelve aircraft spare parts packs were sent to service twenty-four aircraft, and it is no surprise that as a result spares had to be shipped out from RAF Marham to make up the difference."

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F-35 spares shortfall exposed as carrier surged to 24 jets

I am beginning to wonder if Ukraine isn't brought into NATO just because they have the most competent military on the continent.

aggiehawg said:

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I am beginning to wonder if Ukraine isn't brought into NATO just because they have the most competent military on the continent.

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I think Poland has a very capable military & the Fins are too. But the UK is in very bad shape in all aspects of their military.

KentK93 said:

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aggiehawg said:

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I am beginning to wonder if Ukraine isn't brought into NATO just because they have the most competent military on the continent.

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I think Poland has a very capable military & the Fins are too. But the UK is in very bad shape in all aspects of their military.

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Agree on Poland and even Finland. But do they have the adaptable tactics for this type of asymmetrical drone warfare? Ukraine's military has been tested in battle. Valuable experience.

Plus they have NCOs that lead their groupings and have authority to act on the spot without running it up the chain of command.

Russians still have not adapted to that. Structural problem for them.

aggiehawg said:

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KentK93 said:

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aggiehawg said:

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I am beginning to wonder if Ukraine isn't brought into NATO just because they have the most competent military on the continent.

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I think Poland has a very capable military & the Fins are too. But the UK is in very bad shape in all aspects of their military.

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Agree on Poland and even Finland. But do they have the adaptable tactics for this type of asymmetrical drone warfare? Ukraine's military has been tested in battle. Valuable experience.

Plus they have NCOs that lead their groupings and have authority to act on the spot without running it up the chain of command.

Russians still have not adapted to that. Structural problem for them.

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I think both of them are trained very well and would adapt very quickly to the battlefield. I also think both Poland & Finland would have more equipment to use in battle right off. Poland's main problem is it lacks strategic depth in its land mass.

The mooslims aren't going to get nukes in Iran, they're going to get them when they completely take over France and the UK.

ts5641 said:

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The mooslims aren't going to get nukes in Iran, they're going to get them when they completely take over France and the UK.

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Don't tell the Pakistanis that. (I lost count but I think the CIA has staged/run something like a dozen coups there to keep an eye on the situation over the years).

Squadron7 said:

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rausr said:

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What would this guy say?

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Actually, that is the fictional character Horatio Hornblower. Good movie. Great series of books.

I suggest we swap that out for the actual Iron Duke for which the ship that can't go anywhere or fight anything is named.

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I'll raise you this guy, who as I understand it was a absolute boss irl, but for my sake just because its one of the best movies ever made.

rausr said:

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What would this guy say?

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Never knew JFK Jr played Horatio Hornblower.

Kind of denigrating Gregory Peck, aren't you?