Whither Britannia?
In mid-October the British government announced the result of its Strategic Defence Review in parallel with its new budget. Given the financial crisis and the perceived need to reduce deficit spending, deep cuts were widely expected. The Royal Navy will still receive the two Queen Elizabeth -class carriers, but British participation in the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) version of the Joint Strike Fighter (F-35B) has been canceled. The joint Royal Navy-Royal Air Force Harrier force is to be eliminated.