Carrier drones should match the Queen Elizabeth class's aviation system

Should Queen Elizabeth-class carriers operate short-takeoff drones or adopt CATOBAR for uncrewed aircraft?

Use short-takeoff drones alongside the F-35Bs unless Britain is willing to undertake a full CATOBAR conversion.

Short-takeoff drones are the preferred near-term complement to the Queen Elizabeth class's F-35Bs. They fit the carrier's existing aviation approach. A decision to adopt CATOBAR should mean a full conversion because larger drones and more demanding missions would increasingly require a proper catapult-and-arrestor system. Adding capability to a drone also tends to increase its size, so the launch system must accommodate that growth.