Re: Look on the bright side
Russia and India currently both operate the SU-33 from their carriers using STOBAR so it is quite feasible. Russia I believe are moving to the MIG-29K as it has more modern avionics and being smaller they can carry more.
So what you are looking for is something reasonably small with good STOL and rough strip performance that should then be easily navalised. Like, I dunno the SAAB Gripen? I guess that's why there's a design team in London working on Sea Gripen now.