One of the HCSNAS' F-40N carrier fighters has been lost at sea during an exercise as the first new aircraft carrier of the HCS Navy CNS Cloneworld prepares to enter service. The pilot managed to eject and was recovered but the plane was lost. This is serious for the HCSNAS as although they on paper have 60 F-40Ns the vast majority of these rapidly ageing fighters are not able to perform carrier operations.
One HCS blog has now said the HCSNAS only have 6 available fighters to operate off their carrier. The HCSNAS have denied the figure is so low but privately admitted it is not that much higher! Two further aircraft to due to emerge from an overhaul in a couple of months the HCSNAS said. The definitive carrier fighter for the HCSNAS the F-45K is still a number if years away thus for the next few years the HCSN's carriers will be mostly operating with helicopters.
The HCSNAS may consider rebuilding some more F-40Ns so they can operate off carriers however.
