Do warships with aircraft still need a dedicated carrier?

If the principal warships already carry aircraft, does the fleet need a dedicated carrier?

Yes. A dedicated carrier supplies the maintenance capacity and aircraft volume that aviation-capable escorts cannot match.

Carrying aircraft is different from sustaining an air campaign. Modern escorts can embark helicopters and unmanned aircraft, yet fleets still use dedicated carriers. A carrier concentrates more aircraft and the maintenance capacity needed to keep them operating. The Commonwealth's principal warships therefore benefit from a carrier group even though they have their own fighters and drones.