The USA operates a fleet of carriers which are supported by airborne tankers and airborne AEW, the personnel support that use the CATOBAR for launch and recovery.
Look up the Grayhound and Hawkeye.
They have been using this type of carrier for a LONG time, with these aircraft.
The steam catapult was a UK RN invention.
The new American latest carriers will have a new catapult system which is electric powered. EMALS I believe.
We could have installed CATOBAR system but our wonderful MOD needed to save 5 quid to cancelled it and now we have the worst of all combinations- a huge helicopter carrier that can take V/STOL aircraft- only one type of which exist. The F-35B is the worst version of that design- much heavier, reduced fuel load, reduced weapon load, reduced range. Makes you want to weep.
If we fit a CATOBAR system we could use a whole fleet of different aircraft.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
