Editing STOBAR

{{short description|Aircraft carrier launch and recovery system}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
[[File:INS Vikrant (R11) and INS Vikramaditya (R33) during joint exercise.jpg|thumb|{{INS|Vikrant|2013|6}} and {{INS|Vikramaditya}} with a ski-jump takeoff-ramp for STOBAR]]

'''STOBAR''' ("short take-off but arrested recovery" or "short take-off, barrier-arrested recovery") is a system used for the launch and recovery of aircraft from the deck of an [[aircraft carrier]], combining elements of "short take-off and vertical landing" ([[STOVL]]) with "catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery" ([[CATOBAR]]).

Aircraft launch under their own power using a [[Aircraft ski-jump|ski-jump]] to assist take-off (rather than using a [[Aircraft catapult|catapult]]). However, the planes are conventional, rather than STOVL aircraft, and thus require [[arrestor wires]] to land on the ship. The STOBAR system is simpler to build than CATOBAR. {{As of | 2018}}, it has been used widely on Russian, Indian, and Chinese carriers.<!-- Note that the Royal Navy uses STOVL, not STOBAR. -->

== Advantages ==
Compared to CATOBAR, STOBAR is less expensive to develop. It is easier to operate than a CATOBAR configuration, which requires large number of operators to launch the aircraft. The lack of any moving parts in a ski-jump makes it less expensive to maintain than a catapult.<ref name="Head">{{cite web |last=Head |first=Jeff |date=2014-04-07 |url=http://www.freewebs.com/jeffhead/worldwideaircraftcarriers/carriers.htm |title=What are the carriers? |access-date=2019-07-26 |website=World-Wide Aircraft Carriers |via=Freewebs}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://www.usnwc.edu/getattachment/99679d4b-cbc1-4291-933e-a520ea231565/China-s-Aircraft-Carrier-Ambitions--An-Update |title=China's Aircraft Carrier Ambitions |last1=Li |first1=Nan |last2=Weuve |first2=Christopher |journal=Naval War College Review |year=2010 |volume=63 |number=1 |page=20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727100737/http://www.usnwc.edu/getattachment/99679d4b-cbc1-4291-933e-a520ea231565/China-s-Aircraft-Carrier-Ambitions--An-Update |archive-date=2010-07-27}}</ref> It does not require any additional system to generate force required to launch the aircraft, unlike CATOBAR where an external force is needed to be generated either from [[Aircraft catapult|steam catapult]]<ref>{{Cite book |chapter-url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/navy/nrtc/14310_ch4.pdf |chapter=Chapter 4. Steam-Powered Catapults |title=Aviation Boatswain's. Mate E. NAVEDTRA 14310 (Nonresident Training Course) |publisher=Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center |date=July 2001 |via=GlobalSecurity.org}}</ref> or [[Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System]] (EMALS)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://defensetech.org/2007/04/05/emals-next-gen-catapult/ |title=EMALS: Next Gen Catapult |date=2007-04-05 |website=Defense Tech |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620194141/http://defensetech.org/2007/04/05/emals-next-gen-catapult/ |archive-date=2010-06-20}}</ref> to launch the aircraft.

== Limitations ==
[[File:Vikramaditya 7.jpg|thumb|Construction of the ski-jump on {{INS|Vikramaditya}}]]

One major limitation of STOBAR configuration is that it only works with [[fighter aircraft]] that have a high [[thrust-to-weight ratio]] such as [[Sukhoi Su-33|Su-33]] or [[MiG-29K]] and thus limits the kind of aircraft that can be operated from the carrier. It is not known{{who|date=September 2017}} what restrictions ski-jump takeoff implies on maximal aircraft weight. According to some sources, in order to become airborne, the aircraft may be required to limit its weaponry and fuel package in order to reduce the launch weight of the aircraft.<ref name="Head" /><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://defensetech.org/2012/04/25/how-effective-will-chinas-carrier-based-fighters-be/|title = How Effective Will China's Carrier-Based Fighters Be?|date = 2012-04-25|website = Defense Tech|url-status = usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427121235/http://defensetech.org/2012/04/25/how-effective-will-chinas-carrier-based-fighters-be/|archive-date=2012-04-27}}</ref> However, according to other sources,<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/now-navy-wants-super-hornets-too/story-4NE3rf4jBNP6qJQsmaTlFP.html|title = Now Navy wants Super Hornets too|quote=In our simulation, we discovered that not only could the Super Hornet take-off from a ski-jump, but could do so with a significant weapons load.|last=Singh|first=Rahul |work=Hindustan Times|date = 2008-05-14|access-date=3 December 2018}}</ref> the [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|Super Hornet]] can take-off from a ski-jump with a significant weapons load. Using ski-jump can limit the ability to conduct sorties faster on STOBAR aircraft carrier.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://thediplomat.com/2015/04/us-india-collaboration-on-aircraft-carriers-a-good-idea/|title = US-India Collaboration on Aircraft Carriers: A Good Idea?|last=Ankit|first=Panda|website=The Diplomat |date=24 April 2015|access-date=2019-07-26}}</ref> STOBAR carriers must maintain a speed of {{cvt|20|–|30|kn|km/h}} in order to generate wind speed required on deck which is essential for conducting aircraft launch operations.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.naval-technology.com/news/newsindian-navy-seeks-emals-system-second-vikrant-class-aircraft-carrier|title = Indian Navy seeks EMALS system for second Vikrant-class aircraft carrier|website=Naval Technology|date = 2013-05-29|access-date = 2019-07-26}}</ref>

== List of STOBAR aircraft ==
[[File:Tejas takeoff from INS Vikrant.webm|thumb|HAL Tejas (NP-1) short take-off during test flight.]]
* [[HAL Tejas]] – two naval variants are being developed for the [[Indian Navy]]; a prototype (NP-1) is currently undergoing flight testing.<ref>{{Cite news|url =http://www.deccanherald.com/content/244815/lca-naval-variants-first-flight.html|title =LCA naval variant's first flight on Friday|date =2012-04-25|access-date =2019-07-26|work=Deccan Herald|last=Kumar|first=Chethan |url-status =dead|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140202190045/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/244815/lca-naval-variants-first-flight.html|archive-date =2 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-02-07/news/58902892_1_lca-tejas-maiden-flight-national-flight-test-centre|title = Maiden flight by 2nd prototype of LCA Tejas' naval variant|agency=Press Trust of India|work=The Economic Times|date =2015-02-07|access-date=2019-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211070756/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-02-07/news/58902892_1_lca-tejas-maiden-flight-national-flight-test-centre|archive-date=2015-02-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=63054|title = Naval Version of Light Combat Aircraft Rolls out a Defining and Memorable Occasion for the Nation – Antony|publisher = Press Information Bureau|date =6 July 2010|access-date =2019-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805141148/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=63054|archive-date=2011-08-05|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Mikoyan MiG-29K]] – currently active with the Indian Navy and the [[Russian Navy]].
* [[Shenyang J-15]] – partially based on the Su-33, operated by the [[People's Liberation Army Navy]] on {{ship|Chinese aircraft carrier|Liaoning||2}}.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://english.sina.com/china/2012/1124/530358.html|title = J-15 successfully landed on China's carrier Liaoning: Navy|work=Sina English|agency=Xinhua News Agency|date = 2012-11-25|access-date = 2019-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128031541/http://english.sina.com/china/2012/1124/530358.html|archive-date=2012-11-28|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Sukhoi Su-33]] – developed from [[Sukhoi Su-27|Su-27]] and only operated by the Russian Navy.

==Users==
As of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}, three countries currently operate STOBAR-type carriers; Russia, India and China have built a STOBAR ship for operation, while both India and China have procured STOBAR ships that were built by Russia and have had them converted for their own use. 

=== Active STOBAR aircraft carriers ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Class
!Image
!Origin
!No. of ships
!Propulsion
!Displacement
!Operator
!Aircraft carried
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|{{Sclass|Kuznetsov|aircraft carrier|5}}
|rowspan=2|[[File:Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier.jpg|frameless|link=Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov]]
|rowspan=2|[[Soviet Union]]
|1
|rowspan=2|[[Steam turbine]]
|rowspan=2|58,000 tons
|[[Russian Navy]]
|
*[[Sukhoi Su-33|Su-33]]
*[[Mikoyan MiG-29K|MiG-29K]]
*[[Kamov Ka-27|Ka-27]]
|rowspan=2|
|-
|1
|[[People's Liberation Army Navy]]
|
*[[Shenyang J-15|J-15]]
*[[Changhe Z-18|Z-18]]
|-
|{{Sclass|Kiev|aircraft carrier|5}} ([[INS Vikramaditya|INS ''Vikramaditya'']])
|[[File:INS Vikramaditya during trials.jpg|frameless|link=INS Vikramaditya]]
|Soviet Union
|1
|Steam turbine
|45,500 tons
|[[Indian Navy]]
|
*MiG-29K
*[[Kamov Ka-31|Ka-31]]
*[[Westland Sea King|Sea King]]
|Built as STOVL carrier and converted to STOBAR
|-
|{{ship|Chinese aircraft carrier|Shandong||2}}
|[[File:停泊于大连港的001A.jpg|frameless|link=Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong]]
|[[China]]
|1
|Steam turbine
|70,000 tons
|People's Liberation Army Navy
|
*J-15
*Z-18
*[[Harbin Z-9|Z-9]]
|Upgraded ''Kuznetsov'' type design, first aircraft carrier built in China
|-
|{{INS|Vikrant|2013|2}}
|[[File:IAC-1 Vikrant out in the sea during its maiden sea trials.jpg|frameless|link=INS Vikrant (2013)]]
|[[India]]
|1
|[[Gas turbine]]
|45,000 tonnes
|[[Indian Navy]]
|
|First aircraft carrier built in India<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-17|title=India's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS VIKRANT(IAC1) is out for trials|url=https://www.defenceaviationpost.com/2020/10/indias-first-indigenous-aircraft-carrier-ins-vikrantiac1-is-out-for-trials/|website=Defence Aviation Post|access-date=2020-10-18|archive-date=18 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018170912/https://www.defenceaviationpost.com/2020/10/indias-first-indigenous-aircraft-carrier-ins-vikrantiac1-is-out-for-trials/|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Types of take-off and landing}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stobar}}
[[Category:Aircraft carriers]]
[[Category:Types of take-off and landing]]