Zen9 wrote:
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Steam generation would be a problem, solveble but at the expense of space in the ship and fuel burn.
Electro-magnetic catapults might take up less space. Still need fuel to generate the power, of course, and they'd have to beef up the generating plant. And of course, there have to be such catapults, working, not just development projects.
I wonder if a carrier-capable Gripen would suit? Smaller & lighter than Rafale. Have to be developed first, of course, & for a small number that would probably be prohibitively expensive.