View source for Short takeoff and vertical landing

{{subpages}}
Naval aircraft that will operate from [[aircraft carrier]]s not equipped with [[catapult (carrier)|catapults]] will use '''short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL)'''. 

Carriers intended for STOVL aircraft may have "ski jump" ramps, as used on current British, Indian, Russian and Spanish vessels. By making a short takeoff roll up a ramp, the aircraft can take off with more energy and a heavier load. 

U.S. [[amphibious warfare]] ships that carry [[U.S. Marine Corps]] STOVL aircraft, such as the current [[AV-8B Harrier II]] and future [[F-35B Lightning II]], do not use ski jumps. The principal reason is that this gives more deck space for VTOL helicopters and [[MV-22 Osprey]] tilt-rotor aircraft. 

Different kinds of interservice politics may be involved in not having the ski jump. From a cynical Marine perspective, it gives them confidence that the Navy will not take its amphibious assault ships as general-purpose aircraft carriers. From a cynical Air Force perspective, the Navy will not be able to have more decks that can handle the higher-performance [[F-35C Lightning II]].