What is the point of a non Vstol Aircraft using a ski jump ?
So you avoid the weight / complexity of a catapult but how much of a weapons load can you lift staggering into the air barely above stall speed ?
It seems impressive watching the Russian fighter but it doesn't seem very practical.
Did the Harrier not go off the end of the ski jump at 70-90
knots below normal flying speed ?
Being able to go to an intermediate nozzle position at that point augmenting aerodynamic lift with vertical thrust allowed it to carry a decent payload
Just don't see the point, this carrier must have an arresting wire system to stop it's Aircraft so why not go all the way and install catapults ?