Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:09:29-1:11:28

Why Queen Elizabeth did not need catapults

Short-takeoff aircraft preserve interoperability across carriers and future LHDs while also supporting RAF fleet diversity.

F-35BForce StructureNaval AviationQueen Elizabeth Class Aircraft CarriersRoyal Navy
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Question

Was it a mistake not to fit Queen Elizabeth-class carriers with catapults from the start?

Short answer

No; F-35B compatibility across carriers and LHDs offers Britain greater fleet-wide flexibility.

Notes

Catapults would have confined British fixed-wing carrier aviation to the two Queen Elizabeth-class ships. F-35B aircraft could instead move among those carriers and future ski-jump LHDs, allowing the same airframes to support strike or amphibious missions. Their short-takeoff capability also gives the RAF more flexible land basing. An all-catapult F-35C fleet would weaken the institutional case for retaining a separate Eurofighter force, so the choice reflects joint force structure as well as carrier performance.