The assumption in the 2010 scenario is the CVN is strictly a strike platform. The F-14s gave the fleet air defence and the ability to provide air superiority/dominance. I am not sure its worth giving up that function because of the uncertainty of the future given these ships have a +/- 45 year lifespan. I have doubts about the F/A concept and I believe the Fleet needs an air dominance anti-cruise missle capable aircraft though the money may not be there for one. A F-35C with folding wings will take significantly less deck/hanger space than an F-14, A-6 even an F/A-18EFG. A CVN could probably have an airwing of about 90-95 aircraft. Great economy of scale but putting a lot of eggs in one basket. Still you could carry out more missions and, importantly, allow for attrition.

Keep in mind, many people in the Marine Corp want to augment CAW with a squadron of A-10s built for carrier service. The addition of folding wings, caterpult attachment, and landing gear hook on an A-10 would allow the Marine Corp to add a sqaudran of close ground support aircraft to a CAW at a cost of only about 20 million per plane, a litle over 1/3 cost of a modern Super Hornet. Considering the V-22 is getting significant cuts, the Air Force is looking to retire their A-10s, and the A-10 is extreamly popular in congress for its service record and unique style, you never know. Personally, I'd like to see less focus on the strike aircraft and more focus on a fixed wing ASW platform now that the vikings almost never do the ASW role anymore. If the US doesn't get their ASW forces in shape for their CSGs soon, all of this is academic considering the US CSGs won't be going anywhere without Canadian or British ASW forces in 2010+ anyway.

"the Air Force is looking to retire their A-10s" -- Galrahn ---- So much so that USAF is trying to get money to upgrade and refurbish 150 A-10s to become "A-10C" models and keep them on active duty until 2028. Displacedjim

Ahh Jim you are right on, my other source sucks. http://www.lockheedmartin.com/wms/findPage.do?dsp=fec&ci=16678&rsbci=0&fti=111&ti=0&sc=400

 

it is to my knowledge that the carriers are capable of carrying more, but the MoD and the design contractors settled on this amount as they felt it was suitable for the royal navy's needs, in times of need I?m sure it will be able to carry more, however they will have to add extra facilities to cater for the extra numbers, but think of it this way, with these two new carriers the royal navy?s strike capabilities has doubled

 

Also i am almost certain that the cost of the F-35 will be likely to have had some sort of influence as to how many planes the MoD wants the carriers to use.