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{{short description|Military aircraft designed specifically for operations from aircraft carriers}}{{More citations needed|date=November 2024}}{{Redirect|Carrier aircraft| large aircraft carrying smaller ones|Mother ship}}
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[[File:An F-A-18C Hornet launches from the flight deck of the conventionally powered aircraft carrier.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|An [[F/A-18C Hornet]] launches from the flight deck of the [[aircraft carrier]] [[USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)|USS ''Kitty Hawk'']]]]

A '''carrier-based aircraft''' (also known as '''carrier-capable aircraft''', '''carrier-borne aircraft''', or '''carrier aircraft''') is a [[naval aircraft]] designed for operations from [[aircraft carrier]]s. Carrier-based aircraft must be able to launch in a short distance and be sturdy enough to withstand the abrupt forces of launching from and recovering on a pitching deck. In addition, their wings are generally able to fold up, easing operations in tight quarters.

Such aircraft are designed for many purposes including [[Fighter aircraft|air-to-air combat]], [[Attack aircraft|surface attack]], [[Anti-submarine warfare|anti-submarine warfare (ASW)]], [[Search and rescue|search and rescue (SAR)]], [[Carrier onboard delivery|transport (COD)]], [[Weather reconnaissance|weather observation]], [[Reconnaissance aircraft|reconnaissance]] and [[Airborne early warning and control|airborne early warning and control (AEW&C)]] duties.<ref name=ref11>Fred T Jane (2005). ''Jane's All the World's Aircraft''. Jane's Information Group.</ref>

The term is generally applied only to [[fixed-wing aircraft]], as [[naval helicopter]]s are able to operate from a wider variety of [[ship]]s, including [[helicopter carrier]]s, [[destroyer]]s, [[frigate]]s and container ships.

==History==
[[File:The Royal Navy during the Second World War A19715 (cropped).jpg|thumb|A [[Royal Navy]] [[Fairey Swordfish]] taking-off from [[HMS Tracker (D24)|HMS ''Tracker'']], 1943]]

The 1903 advent of fixed-wing aircraft was followed in 1910 by the first flight of an aircraft from the  [[Deck (ship)|deck]] of an anchored warship (the [[United States Navy]]'s {{USS|Birmingham|CL-2|6}}), and in 1912, by the first flight of an aircraft from the deck of a warship underway (the [[Royal Navy]]'s {{HMS|Hibernia|1905|6}}). [[Seaplane]]s and [[seaplane tender]] support ships, such as {{HMS|Engadine|1911|6}}, followed. This evolution was well underway by the early 1920s, resulting in ships such as {{HMS|Argus|I49|6}} (1918), {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Hōshō||2}} (1922), {{USS|Langley|CV-1|6}} (1922), and {{ship|French aircraft carrier|Béarn||2}} (1927). With these developments, the need for specialized aircraft adapted for take-offs and landings from the [[flight deck]]s of those ships became recognized.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
[[File:Kaga Carrier Zero Fighters.jpg|thumb|Illustration of [[Mitsubishi A6M Zero|Mitsubishi A6M Zeros]] on [[Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga|Kaga aircraft carrier]], 1942]]
[[File:F4U-5 Corsair of VMF-212 at Yokosuka 1950.jpg|thumb|A F4U-5 ''Corsair'' is hoisted on deck of a vessel at Yokosuka, Japan, 1950.]]
The significance of [[Aerial warfare|air power]] grew between the wars, driven by the increased range, carrying power, and effectiveness of carrier-launched aircraft, until it became impossible to disregard its importance during World War II, following the loss of many warships to aircraft, including the [[Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse|sinking of ''Prince of Wales'' and ''Repulse'']], the [[Battle of Taranto]], the [[Attack on Pearl Harbor]] and numerous other incidents. Following the war, carrier operations continued to increase in size and importance.<ref name="US Navy History: Evolution of Aircraft Carriers">{{Cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/download/car-7.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-10-13 |archive-date=2009-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226175748/http://www.history.navy.mil/download/car-7.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The vital importance of aircraft carriers, and therefore carrier-capable aircraft, quickly became apparent at the onset of the [[Pacific War|war in the Pacific]] where the US's [[Leapfrogging (strategy)|island hopping campaign]] meant that being able to conduct air operations at sea far from an airbase was crucially important.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Passing the Baton: World War II’s Asian Theater and the Coming of Age of the Aircraft Carrier |url=https://www.asianstudies.org/publications/eaa/archives/passing-the-baton-world-war-iis-asian-theater-and-the-coming-of-age-of-the-aircraft-carrier/ |website=Asian Studies}}</ref> At the onset Japan used 125 [[Mitsubishi A6M Zero|Mitsubishi A6M Zeros]] launched from 6 aircraft carriers to attack the Naval base at [[Pearl Harbor]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero |url=https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196313/mitsubishi-a6m2-zero/ |website=nationalmuseum.af.mil}}</ref> with the result of sinking or damaging 21 warships, and destroying 188 aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Happened At Pearl Harbor? |url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-happened-at-pearl-harbor |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=Imperial War Museums |language=en}}</ref>  The war saw the creation of new carrier capable aircraft such as the [[Vought F4U Corsair]], and further variants of the [[Mitsubishi A6M Zero|Zero]]. Often carrier aircraft would have folding wings or wingtips to maximise space conservation on the decks of carriers.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Yarygina |first=M. V. |last2=Popov |first2=Yu. I. |date=2012-04-01 |title=Development of the weight formula for a folding wing |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.3103/S106879981202002X |journal=Russian Aeronautics (Iz VUZ) |language=en |volume=55 |issue=2 |pages=120–126 |doi=10.3103/S106879981202002X |issn=1934-7901}}</ref>

Carrier aircraft were used extensively during the [[Korean War|Korean]] and [[Vietnam War|Vietnam]] wars.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aircraft Carriers—Missions, Survivability, Size, Cost, Numbers |url=https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8219&context=nwc-review |website=usnwc.edu}}</ref> [[Douglas A-4 Skyhawk|Douglas A-4 Skyhawks]] participated in the first strikes of the Vietnam War in response to attacks against American destroyers in the Tonkin Gulf in August 1964. The A-4's small size and light weight meant a high number could be loaded onto carriers, making them an important resource during the Vietnam war.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A-4 Skyhawk |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nnam/explore/collections/aircraft/a/a-4-skyhawk.html |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=public1.nhhcaws.local |language=en-US}}</ref> 

==Types==
There are three main types of modern carrier-based aircraft, which are categorised by the U.S. Navy as follows:

===Catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery===
[[CATOBAR]] is a system used for the launch and recovery of aircraft from the deck of an [[aircraft carrier]]. Under this technique, aircraft are launched using a [[CATO (aviation)|catapult-assisted take-off]] and landing on the ship using [[Arresting gear|arresting wires]]. Although this system is more costly than alternative methods, it provides greater flexibility in carrier operations, since it allows the aircraft to operate with higher payloads. Ships with CATOBAR currently include the U.S. {{sclass|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|4}},<ref name="US Navy History: Evolution of Aircraft Carriers"/> the U.S. [[Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier|''Gerald R. Ford''-class]], and France's {{ship|French aircraft carrier|Charles de Gaulle||2}}.
The use of [[Aircraft catapult|catapults]] allows an aircraft carrier to launch large fixed-wing aircraft. For example, the U.S. Navy launches its [[Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye|E-2 Hawkeye]] [[Airborne early warning and control|AEW]] aircraft and [[Grumman C-2 Greyhound|C-2A Greyhound]] cargo aircraft with catapults.[[File:Carrier Sea Training MOD (cropped).jpg|thumb|An [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35B]] utilizes a [[Flight deck#Ski-jump ramp|ski-jump]] to become airborne off the deck of [[HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08)|HMS ''Queen Elizabeth'']]]]

===Short take-off and vertical landing===
[[STOVL]] take-offs are accomplished with "[[Ski-jump (aviation)|ski-jumps]]", instead of a catapult. STOVL use usually allows aircraft to carry a larger payload as compared to during [[VTOL]] use, while avoiding the complexity of a catapult. The best known example is the [[Hawker Siddeley Harrier]] Jump Jet,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930180328/http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=609 "Hawker Siddeley Harrier."] ''British Aircraft Directory''. Retrieved: 1 July 2017.</ref> despite being capable of VTOL take-offs, is usually operated as a STOVL aircraft to increase its fuel and weapons load.

===Short take-off but arrested recovery===
[[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). These are conventional aircraft however and require [[Arresting gear|arresting wires]] to land on the ship. The [[Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier]]s of the [[Russian Navy]] and [[People's Liberation Army Navy]] operate the [[Sukhoi Su-33|Su-33]] (Russia) and [[Shenyang J-15|J-15]] (China) as STOBAR aircraft. Others include the Indian {{INS|Vikramaditya||2}} and  {{INS|Vikrant|2013|2}}; both will operate [[Mikoyan MiG-29K|MiG-29K]]s.{{cn|date=February 2023}}

===Unassisted take-off===
[[File:USN E-2C Scewtops.jpg|thumb|The [[Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye|E-2 Hawkeye]] is one of the larger air frames on a carrier]]

Prior to World War II, the weight of most aircraft allowed them to be launched from aircraft carriers under their own power, but required assistance in stopping. Catapults were installed but were used only when the ship was stationary or adequate wind over the deck could not be arranged by sailing into the wind. Even aircraft as large as the [[North American B-25 Mitchell]] were [[Doolittle Raid#Additional perspectives|launched]] in this manner. This was possible because the ship's speed with even the lightest prevailing winds, combined with a low take-off speed allowed early aircraft to gain flying speed in a very short distance. The most extreme version of this was the battleship platforms used during the 1920s when small, World War I-era [[biplane]] fighters such as the [[Sopwith Camel]] were launched from only a few dozen feet long mounted atop of a [[battleship]]'s forward [[gun turret]].

Conventional aircraft, such as the [[Curtiss P-40 Warhawk]], [[Republic P-47 Thunderbolt]], [[Supermarine Spitfire]], and [[Hawker Hurricane]], were often delivered to overseas air bases by aircraft carrier.  They would be loaded onto an aircraft carrier in port by cranes, flown off the carrier at sea near their destination under their own power, and land on a friendly airfield ashore.  These were not usually combat missions but in some cases the launched aircraft provided air cover for the ship, and the aircraft could not be recovered by the carrier.

Some [[STOL]] aircraft, such as the [[North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco]], have been operated from aircraft carriers and [[amphibious assault ship]]s in this manner more recently, but this is not common practice.

Even very large aircraft such as the [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules]] have been successfully landed and launched from large aircraft carriers, but was done with no cargo and little fuel on board the aircraft.

==Modern carrier-based aircraft in service==
{{See also|List of carrier-based aircraft}}

===In service===
[[File:Rafale - RIAT 2018 (cropped).jpg|thumb|A [[Dassault Rafale|Rafale M]] with its [[tailhook]] down on final approach]]
* [[Boeing EA-18G Growler]]
* [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet]]
* [[Dassault Rafale|Dassault Rafale M]]
* [[Grumman C-2 Greyhound]]
* [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|Lockheed Martin F-35B/C Lightning II]]
* [[McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II]]
* [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet]]   
* [[McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk]]
* [[Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye]]
* [[Mikoyan MiG-29K]]
* [[Shenyang J-15]]
* [[Sukhoi Su-25|Sukhoi Su-25UTG/UBP]]
* [[Sukhoi Su-33]][[File:Sukhoi Su-33 77 RED (30268117476).jpg|thumb|The [[Sukhoi Su-33]] was a carrier-borne aircraft, created from the [[Sukhoi Su-27|Su-27]]]]  
* [[Bell Boeing CMV-22B Osprey]]

===Under development===
* [[Boeing MQ-25 Stingray]]
* [[Bayraktar Kızılelma]]<ref name="Ozberk">{{Cite web|last=Ozberk|first=Tayfun|date=2021-07-22|title=Turkey to deploy MIUS unmanned combat aircraft from LHD Anadolu|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/07/turkey-to-deploy-mius-unmanned-combat-aircraft-from-lhd-anadolu/|access-date=2021-08-18|website=Naval News|language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Bayraktar TB3]]<ref name="Ozberk"/>
* [[HAL TEDBF]]
* [[HAL Tejas|HAL Tejas Naval]]
* [[Shenyang J-35|Shenyang J-35]]
* [[F/A-XX program|F/A-XX]]

==See also==
*[[Escort carrier]]
*[[Launch and recovery cycle]]
*[[Modern United States Navy carrier air operations]]
*[[Naval aviation]]
*[[Carrier aircraft used during World War II]]

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
*Chant, Chris. "Aircraft of World War II" Barnes & Noble: New York (1999) {{ISBN|0-7607-1261-1}}
*Collier, Basil. "Japanese Aircraft of World War II" Mayflower: New York (1979) {{ISBN|0-8317-5137-1}}
*{{cite book |last= Donald |first= David |author2=Daniel J. March |title= Carrier Aviation Air Power Directory |year= 2001 |publisher= AIRtime Publishing |location= Norwalk, CT |isbn= 1-880588-43-9 }}
*Gunston, Bill. "Combat Aircraft of World War II" Salamander Books: London (1978) {{ISBN|0-89673-000-X}}
*Munson, Kenneth. "Aircraft of World War II" Doubleday: New York
*Pawlowski, Gareth L. "Flat-Tops and Fledglings" Castle Books: New York (1971) {{ISBN|0-498-07641-5}}
*[[Clark G. Reynolds]]. ''The fast carriers: the forging of an air navy'' (1968; 1978; 1992)
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Carrier-based aircraft}}

[[Category:Carrier-based aircraft| ]]