Why do modern carriers rely more on multirole aircraft than specialised types?
Short answerWhen navies have fewer carriers and aircraft, each type must cover more jobs; larger wartime air groups made specialist aircraft easier to sustain.
NotesThe answer ties aircraft design to the size of the force that must host it. Before the Second World War, small air groups encouraged general-purpose aircraft, while wartime expansion made more specialised types practical. Modern fleets again operate few carriers and therefore ask individual aircraft to cover more missions. Specialised long-range anti-submarine aircraft could return as uncrewed systems expand the number of deployable airframes.