CVA-01's conventional CATOBAR arrangement appears surprising beside Britain's long investment in V/STOL aircraft and alternative deck systems. British aerospace firms regarded vertical and short takeoff technology as a specialist capability that could distinguish them from foreign competitors. Government and industry hoped success in that niche would yield both world-class equipment and export orders. CVA-01 therefore appears as a major carrier project that did not capitalize on the technical direction much of the national aircraft sector was pursuing.
Notable Point · 28:11-28:43
CVA-01 sat apart from Britain's V/STOL industrial strategy
The conventional CATOBAR design of CVA-01 did not exploit the V/STOL niche that British government and industry hoped could produce world-class technology and export sales.