Carrier - based aircraft Carrier - based aircraft are military aircraft designed specifically for operations from aircraft carrier s . The term is generally applied only to fixed - wing aircraft , as naval helicopter s are able to operate from a wider variety of aviation - capable ships . Carrier - based aircraft must be relatively sturdy to withstand demanding carrier operations . They must be able to launch in a short distance and be sturdy enough to withstand the often abrupt forces associated with launching and recovering from a pitching deck and commonly have mechanisms to fold the wings to allow more to be carried on board . These aircraft are designed for many purposes including air - to - air combat , surface attack , anti - submarine warfare ( ASW ) , search and rescue ( SAR ) , transport ( COD ) , weather observation , reconnaissance and airborne early warning and control ( AEW & C ) duties . History . The 1903 advent of fixed - wing aircraft was followed in 1910 by the first flight of an aircraft from the deck of the U . S . Navy ' s USS Birmingham . Seaplane s and seaplane tender support ships , such as , followed . The development of flat top vessels produced the first large fleet ships . This evolution was well underway by the early 1920s , resulting in ships such as " HMS Argus " ( 1918 ) , " Hōshō " ( 1922 ) , " USS Langley " ( 1922 ) , and the " Béarn " ( 1927 ) . With these developments the need for specialized aircraft adapted for takeoffs and landings from the flight decks of these ships became widely recognized . The significance of air power grew between the wars , driven by the increased range , carrying power , and effectiveness of carrier - launched aircraft , until it became impossible to disregard its importance during World War II , following the loss of many warships to aircraft , including the Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse , the battle of Taranto , the attack on Pearl Harbor and numerous other incidents . Following the war , carrier operations continued to increase in size and importance . Types . Modern carrier - based aircraft are built in mainly three different versions to suit the needs of its various users . Terms are those used currently by the U . S . Navy . Catapult Assisted Take Off But Arrested Recovery . CATOBAR is a system used for the launch and recovery of aircraft from the deck of an aircraft carrier . Under this technique , aircraft launch using a catapult - assisted take off and land ( recover ) on the ship using arresting wires . Although this system is more costly than alternative methods , it provides greater flexibility in carrier operations , since it allows the aircraft to operate with higher payloads . Ships with CATOBAR currently include : the U . S . " Nimitz " class , and USS Enterprise ( CVN - 65 ) with the F - 18 series , France ' s " Charles De Gaulle " with Rafale s , and Brazil ' s " NAe São Paulo " with A - 4 Skyhawk s . The use of catapults allows an aircraft carrier to launch large fixed - wing aircraft . For example , the U . S . Navy launches its E - 2 Hawkeye AEW aircraft and C - 2A Greyhound cargo aircraft with catapult s . Short Take Off and Vertical Landing . STOVL takeoffs are accomplished with " ski - jumps " , instead of a catapult . STOVL use usually allows aircraft to carry a larger payload as compared to during VTOL use , while avoiding the complexity of a catapult . The best known example is the Hawker Siddeley Harrier Jump Jet , despite being capable of VTOL takeoffs , is usually operated as a STOVL aircraft to increase its fuel and weapons load . Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery . STOBAR is a system used for the launch and recovery of aircraft from the deck of an aircraft carrier , combining elements of both STOVL and CATOBAR . Aircraft launch under their own power using a ski - jump to assist take - off ( rather than using a catapult ) . These are conventional aircraft however and require arresting wires to land on the ship . The Russian Navy aircraft carrier " Admiral Kuznetsov " operated the Su - 33 , in this manner . Another will be the Indian " Vikramaditya " and the future " Vikrant " class aircraft carrier ; both are likely to operate MiG - 29K s . Unassisted takeoff . Prior to the increase in aircraft weights experienced during World War II , most carrier aircraft launched under their own power , but required assistance in stopping . Catapults were installed but were used only when the ship was stationary or adequate wind over the deck could not be arranged by sailing into the wind . Even aircraft as large as the North American B - 25 Mitchell were launched in this manner . This was possible because the ships speed of nearly 20 knots , combined with a low takeoff speed allowed the aircraft to gain flying speed in a very short distance . The most extreme version of this was the battleship platforms used during the 1920s when small fighters were launched from a platform only a few dozen feet long . Some STOL aircraft , such as the North American Rockwell OV - 10 Bronco , have been operated from aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships in this manner more recently , but this is no longer common practice .