Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:12:11-1:14:03

CATOBAR versus STOVL depends on the whole fleet

Although the F-35C offers range, a smaller navy may gain more resilience from several STOVL-capable carriers and LHDs.

Aircraft CarriersAmphibious WarfareCATOBARF-35 Lightning IIForce StructureSTOVL
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Question

Was switching to STOVL a mistake when CATOBAR carriers and the F-35C offer better range?

Short answer

Not necessarily. For a small fleet with several ski-jump-capable platforms, STOVL can create more operational redundancy even if the F-35C is the stronger individual aircraft.

Notes

The CATOBAR-STOVL choice is a fleet-design problem rather than a competition between individual aircraft. A British plan combining Queen Elizabeth-class carriers with ski-jump LHD replacements for Ocean, Albion, and Bulwark could have created several platforms able to operate F-35Bs. Damage or maintenance affecting one ship would leave other compatible decks available. For a country with limited hull numbers, that redundancy can outweigh the F-35C's performance advantage.