Carrier-based aircraft are military aircraft designed specifically for operations from aircraft carriers. The term is generally applied only to fixed-wing aircraft, as naval helicopters are able to operate from a wider variety of aviation-capable ships. Carrier-based aircraft must be relatively sturdy to withstand demanding carrier operations. They must be able to launch in a short distance and be sturdy and flexible enough to come to a sudden stop on a pitching deck; they typically have robust folding wing mechanisms that allow higher numbers of them to be stored in below-decks hangars. These aircraft are designed for many purposes including air-to-air combat, surface attack, submarine attack, search and rescue, materiel transport, weather observation, reconnaissance and wide area command and control duties.[1]
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The first manned aircraft were balloons, used during the 19th and early 20th century, mainly for observation purposes.[2] The 1903 advent of fixed-wing aircraft was followed in 1910 by the first flight of such an aircraft from the deck of a U.S. Navy cruiser. Seaplanes and seaplane tender support ships, such as HMS Engadine, followed. The development of flat top vessels produced the first large fleet ships. This evolution was well underway by the mid 1920s, resulting in ships such as HMS Hermes, Hōshō, and the Lexington-class aircraft carriers.
World War II saw the first large-scale use and further refinement of the aircraft carrier, spawning several types. Escort aircraft carriers, such as USS Bogue, were built only during World War II. Although some were purpose-built, most were converted from merchant ships as a stop-gap measure to provide air support for convoys and amphibious invasions.[3]
Before World War II international naval treaties of 1922, 1930 and 1936 limited the size of capital ships including carriers. Aircraft carrier designs since World War II have been effectively unlimited by any consideration save budgetary, and the ships have increased in size to handle the larger aircraft. A modern aircraft carrier of the United States Navy may deploy 60-100 aircraft, yet its complement of aircraft is roughly the same as those of the World War II era — a consequence of the steadily increasing size and weight of military aircraft over the years.[4]
Modern navies that operate such ships treat aircraft carriers as the capital ship of the fleet, a role previously played by the battleship. This change, part of the growth of air power as a significant factor in warfare, took place during World War II and was driven by the superior range, flexibility and effectiveness of carrier-launched aircraft. Following the war, carrier operations continued to increase in size and importance. Supercarriers, typically displacing 75,000 tonnes (74,000 long tons; 83,000 short tons) or greater, have become the pinnacle of carrier development. Most are powered by nuclear reactors and form the core of a fleet designed to operate far from home. Amphibious assault ships, such as USS Tarawa and HMS Ocean, serve the purpose of carrying and landing Marines, and operate a large contingent of helicopters for that purpose. Also known as "commando carriers" or "helicopter carriers", many have a secondary capability to operate VSTOL aircraft.[4]
Modern carrier-based aircraft are built in mainly three different versions to suit the needs of its various users.
CATOBAR is a system used for the launch and recovery of aircraft from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Under this technique, aircraft launch using a catapult assisted take off and land on the ship (the recovery phase) using arresting wires. Although this system is more costly than alternative methods, it provides greater flexibility in carrier operations, since it allows the vessel to support aircraft with full combat payload. Only three countries still operate carriers that use the CATOBAR system; the U.S. Nimitz class, and USS Enterprise (CVN-65) with the F-18 series[4], France's Charles De Gaulle with Rafales, and Brazil's NAe São Paulo with A-4 Skyhawks.[5]
The use of catapults allows an aircraft carrier to launch large fixed-wing aircraft. For example, the U.S. Navy launches E-2 Hawkeye AEW aircraft and C-2A Greyhound cargo aircraft with catapults.
STOVL is often accomplished on aircraft carriers through the use of "ski-jump" runways, instead of the conventional catapult system. STOVL use tends to allow aircraft to carry a larger payload as compared to during VTOL use, while still only requiring a short runway. The most famous example is probably the Hawker Siddeley Harrier Jump Jet [6], which though technically a VTOL aircraft, is operationally a STOVL aircraft due to the extra weight it carries at take off for fuel and armaments. The same is true of the F-35B Lightning II, which demonstrated VTOL capability in test flights but is operationally STOVL.
STOBAR is a system used for the launch and recovery of aircraft from the deck of an aircraft carrier, combining elements of both STOVL and CATOBAR. Aircraft launch under their own power using a ski-jump to assist take-off (rather than using a catapult like most carriers). These are conventional, rather than STOVL aircraft however and thus require arresting wires to land on the ship. The Russian Navy aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov operates the Su-33, a STOBAR aircraft. Another will be the Indian Vikramaditya and the future Vikrant class aircraft carrier; both are likely to operate MiG-29Ks.[7]
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