The illustrative patrol cycle needs four aircraft airborne, four on deck alert, four ready to move up to the deck and four undergoing maintenance after returning. Two spare airframes bring the total to 18. A carrier with 36 aircraft can allocate another 18 to generating strikes while sustaining that four-aircraft patrol. Aircraft endurance alone does not determine the force required, because refuelling, rearming, maintenance and pilot rest all interrupt availability. Drones also need fuel and weapons replenishment. Removing the pilot therefore does not remove the need for a rotating aircraft pool.
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How an 18-aircraft pool sustains four fighters on patrol
The four-aircraft patrol example shows why aircraft in maintenance, on alert and in reserve count toward carrier air-group size.