Carrier-based aircraft

Carrier aircraft redirects here. For large aircraft carrying smaller ones see Mother ship.

Carrier-based aircraft, sometimes known as carrier-capable aircraft or carrier-borne aircraft, are naval aircraft designed specifically for operations from aircraft carriers. The term is generally applied only to fixed-wing aircraft, as naval helicopters are able to operate from a wider variety of ships, including helicopter carriers and container ships. Carrier-based aircraft 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. In addition, carrier aircraft commonly have mechanisms to fold the wings to allow more such aircraft to be carried on board. Such 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.