Why do navies build STOBAR carriers if the arrangement combines disadvantages of other carrier types?
Short answerIt fills an air-defense niche by launching fighters quickly and recovering them heavily, though it is much less capable for major strike missions.
NotesSTOBAR can suit a navy whose principal carrier requirement is air defense. The explanation emphasizes rapid fighter launch and the recovery of heavy aircraft with arresting gear. Heavily loaded strike aircraft pose a different problem because their strike load is generally heavier than an air-defense load. The arrangement is therefore presented as useful for a limited mission set, with less flexibility for major strike operations.