How close were the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers to becoming CATOBAR ships?
Short answerThe idea was considered, but the redesign and launch-system requirements were substantial; it also made most sense alongside a larger LHD-based aviation fleet.
NotesFitting catapults and arresting gear would have required extensive work around the forward ship and reliable electromagnetic launch equipment. Non-nuclear propulsion was not the central barrier because the ships had the theoretical electrical-generation capacity needed for EMALS, although the capacitors and launch system still had to work. The carrier choice belonged to an abandoned force plan pairing two strike carriers with two or three LHDs, providing five aviation decks across the fleet. The concept was meant to replace several older carrier and amphibious hulls with a more coherent aviation force. Once the LHD half disappeared, much of the strategic logic for accepting only two large strike decks disappeared with it.