Compact Aircraft Carrier Design Using a Three-Dimensional Launch and Recovery System

This work proposes a compact aircraft carrier architecture based on a three-dimensional launch and recovery system that fundamentally departs from the traditional flat-deck paradigm. Conventional carriers rely on long, exposed planar runways to accommodate both take-off and landing, imposing hard lower bounds on deck length, displacement, and survivability. By spatially decoupling launch and recovery operations and redistributing required runway distance into inclined, depth-assisted structures, the proposed design eliminates the need for continuous flat decks while preserving operational feasibility. The architecture integrates inclined, roller-assisted launch paths and inclined recovery corridors employing gravity-assisted deceleration and controlled eddy current based braking, enabling a substantial reduction in exposed deck length. At the system level, the carrier layout supports non-interfering, parallel operations through dual launch lanes, dual inclined recovery lanes, and a straight backup landing corridor, allowing graceful degradation under partial damage or system outages. The resulting configuration improves survivability, reduces target signature, and enhances sortie flexibility without reliance on speculative propulsion or unverified materials. This paper focuses on the architectural logic, geometric constraints, and operational implications of three-dimensional carrier design, providing a foundation for subsequent detailed analyses of launch mechanics and recovery dynamics. The same launch and recovery architecture is applicable to temporary or expeditionary land bases, enabling fighter operations from severely constrained or damaged terrain without reliance on full-length runways.