By now, many Eccentric readers will have seen the blockbuster movie "Top Gun Maverick," and each will have formed their own opinions. I have friends who have seen this movie more than once. It is a global success, no question, and a financial windfall for all involved, notably Tom Cruise. The screenplay writers Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, and Christopher McQuarrie did a brilliant job. They created the means to an end. For me, this movie resonated because of its poignancy, personal interactions, as well, of course, the flying scenes. The F/A-18 is an excellent aircraft of which the US Navy is justly proud. We, taxpayers, are getting a serious bang for our buck and are justly admiring the "Blue Angels" and those other US Navy pilots who fly this great aircraft from our nuclear-powered aircraft carriers (CVNs). The "Growler" electronic warfare version of the F/A-18 is a particular favorite of mine. It is hugely capable in a world of electronic warfare, electronic countermeasures, deception, and cyber.

Since the original 1986 "Top Gun" movie Tom Cruise, technology has come a long way. Notwithstanding the various technical air warfare modalities, the personal interactions were symbolic for me. Maverick's relationships with the sick and dying "Iceman" (played by Val Kilmer, himself a sick man), now a four-star admiral, and his care for the son of his dead back seater, "Goose," in the original movie were indeed superbly done, as was Maverick's relationship with the lead lady, played by Jennifer Connelly. Miles Teller was outstanding as "Rooster," the reborn Goose, Nick Bradshaw. The father of "Rooster" was originally played by Anthony Edwards.

Now to the real world. Most Eccentric readers may not have heard of a Royal Navy pilot who I regard as the most distinguished British combat pilot since World War Two, Commander Nigel "Sharkey" Ward, DSC (Distinguished Service Cross), AFC (Air Force Cross), Royal Navy (retired). Amongst many outstanding achievements, Sharkey was the commander of the lead squadron, 801 Naval Air Squadron, on board HMS Invincible during the 1982 Falklands Campaign. Admiral "Sandy" Woodward, a submariner, the Falklands Task Group Commander in the carrier HMS Hermes, made a hugely significant statement at the successful conclusion of the campaign with the liberation of the islands: "If Sharkey Ward had not disobeyed my orders we would not have won the Falklands campaign." Commander Ward's book, "Sea Harrier over the Falklands." However, one book that I enjoin you all to read is Sharkey's very recent book, "Her Majesty's Top Gun". This is simply an outstanding book.

When you read it, you will see the true measures of an actual "Top Gun" pilot. A recent article in the Petersfield Post, a Hampshire, UK local newspaper akin to the Eccentric, described what happened when Sharkey received the call at 4 am on Friday, April 2, 1982, while visiting family in Rutland to hasten back to the Royal Naval Air Station at Yeovilton in Somerset and mobilize his squadron for war immediately. During the Falklands Campaign, Commander Ward flew more than 60 missions in his Sea Harrier jump jet from HMS Invincible. On May 21, 1982, he and his wingman shot down a Pucara, three Argentinean Air Force Mirage V Dagger jets. On June 1, he downed an Argentinean C-130 Hercules conducting reconnaissance against the British Task Group. Sharkey was involved in ten "kills" and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for gallantry.

"Her Majesty's Top Gun" has more significance for Eccentric readers than meets the eye. In an age when China is challenging the United States Navy and our allies in what is becoming the most serious strategic threat to the US and allied security since World War Two, notwithstanding even Putin's egregious invasion of Ukraine, maritime air power together with our extraordinarily capable submarine and surface fleets, together with the outstanding capabilities of the US Marine Corps and Royal Marines, is at the heart of US and allied forward based deterrence and power projection. Sharkey has firmly and irrevocably dispelled many inaccurate and spurious claims by the UK's Royal Air Force's advocates that land-based air power played a significant role in the Falklands Campaign, a somewhat egregious claim. All in the name of advocating a hugely expensive next-generation land-based fighter that will have little or no strategic relevance.

I have been a fervent advocate for the UK to have a joint US-UK program for the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force to buy the F/A-18 and the Growler variant, which can be land- and carrier-based, interoperable, and interchangeable with the US aircraft carrier fleet. The F/A-18 would complement from land-based bases the F-35Bs on board the UK's two aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, both of which will operate more and more with US Navy carrier strike groups after the 2021 successful deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth to the Far East where she operated with the US and other allied and friendly navies.

"Sharkey" Ward is far more than the UK's most distinguished combat veteran and naval air power advocate in an era when the sea is key in modern strategy. The UK government's lead persons in the various defense and intelligence committees in Britain's House of Commons and House of Lords need to pay serious attention to the writings of an accomplished strategic thinker who has also "Been there and done it." Together with other distinguished Falklands veterans such as Admiral Lord Alan West, Major General Julian Thomson, Royal Marines, Rear Admiral Jeremy Larkin, and Commodore Michael Clapp, all highly decorated, the UK's Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Defense need to reassess operational requirements as a matter of critical urgency before the UK makes what may become the worst acquisition and strategic blunder in modern British history at the huge expense to the British taxpayer and strategic priorities.

"Top Gun" has much more significance than meets the eye. As our most crucial ally, let us hope that the UK leadership has a strategic awakening. They owe Sharkey Ward a huge debt for his outstanding combat service and leadership and the fine quality of his strategic thinking.