woka,
The UK (via the Fleet Air Arm) has been responsible for all major aircraft carrier developments: the aircraft carrier itself, lifts, arrested landing, angled flight deck, steam catapult, mirror landing sight (meatball), ski-jump, vstol etc. I am struggling to think of any other nation that has done anything with aircraft carriers except the USN - who have just built big ones!
I wonder, if the UK goes for F18, whether the RAF will get any look in at all as the FAA can do all training in the US, including carrier qualification.