Since this contract dispute arose I have wondered if one or both of the new proposed British carriers eventually will wind up with India and/ or Australia. The post-Blair government certainly has no real desire to spend the money to operate such ships, but completing the construction for a third party would save thousands of British jobs.
I don’t think Australia plans on buying real carriers anytime soon(heck,they elected labour-didn’t ya hear!!!!).They seem content with their 2 soon to be built amphibious carriers which maybe modified for the F-35B.
About India,well the cost would be much higher & the time of entry into service is too distant.By that time,the Indigneous Indian carrier would have entered service.It would be inferior in capability,but costs would be lower.
I’d hazard a guess & say that the Brits will build one,if not the 2 carriers.It’s their only route to maintain real power projection capability.The things that may get the axe are future Eurofighter & Type-45 destroyer orders.