How small can a CTOL carrier be?

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Subject: How small can a CTOL carrier be?
Volkodav 10/14/2009 7:50:46 AM

Using EMALS and other new tech how small can a carrier, designed to operate 8 F-35C (or similar), 2-4 E-2D and 3-6 ASW helo's, be? I know steel is cheap and air is free, that large airgroups are more effective / flexible than small ones, but this is how small can a carrier go. Think of this as a neo Colossus / Majestic.

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Volkodav 3/24/2010 5:25:30 AM

Interesting discussion in the UK at the moment ref the possible redesign of the Queen Elisabeths as CTOL carriers and going for the F-35C / E-2D as a cost saving. This is based on the price of the F-35B and what ever AEW they could get being much more expensive than converting the ships to CTOL and using MOTS USN gear.

One estimate places two CTOL carriers with full airgroups and overhead at a NAS as cheaper than one QE completed as a STO/VL carrier and the other as a commando carrier and only one airgroup with F-35B's.

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