Modern American landing helicopter dock ships exceed 40,000 tons, so most navies would not describe them as small ships. Their normal aviation purpose is to support amphibious warfare rather than reproduce a fleet carrier's mission. An LHD can embark a large F-35B detachment and provide another flight deck for a particular operation. It still lacks parts of the wider carrier system, with airborne early warning singled out here. A mission-specific fighter load does not erase the doctrinal and support differences between an amphibious aviation ship and a fully equipped fleet carrier.
Notable Point · 24:17-25:50
Why an American LHD is not a complete fleet carrier
Large amphibious assault ships can embark F-35Bs, but size and a fighter detachment do not give them a fleet carrier's full aviation system.