Aviation-capable naval vessel
Many modern naval vessels are capable of carrying and supporting aircraft, although only aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships with full-length flight decks are truly dedicated to naval aviation, especially operation of fixed-wing aircraft. VTOL aircraft such as helicopters can however adapted well to most surface vessels as long as there is sufficient space on the top deck for safe takeoff and landing.
A majority of United States Navy ships have at least a stern helipad, capable of landing medium-sized naval helicopters for maritime patrol, search and rescue and anti-submarine missions. Many others even have hangars incorporated into the structure of the ship. It has become a standard part of modern ship design to have a deck that supports medium or large helicopters, as well as being able to house them in a hangar, for protection and maintenance.
Aside from aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, the USN has 12 classes of commissioned surface warships, 10 of which are aviation-capable. Two of those classes, patrol crafts and mine warfare vessels, are due to be replaced by the more versatile littoral combat ship, at which point the entire USN surface war fleet will be aviation-capable.
US Navy ships
As of 2016, the current types and classes of US Navy ships, along with their capabilities are as follows:| Type | Hull code | Class | Aircraft carried |
| Amphibious Command Ship | 2 × Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk helicopters | ||
| Amphibious transport dock | up to 4 or 6 × Boeing Vertol [CH-46 Sea Knight|CH-46 Sea Knight] or up to 5 × MV-22 Osprey Tilt-rotors. | ||
| Cruiser | 2 × Sikorsky SH-60B or MH-60R Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters. | ||
| Destroyer | up to 2 × MH-60R LAMPS III helicopters | ||
| Dock landing ship | 2 × CH-53E Super Stallion or 3 × CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters | ||
| Littoral combat ship | 2 × MH-60R/S Seahawk and 1 × MQ-8 Fire Scout | ||
| Submarine tender | none |
Along with these types and classes, many of the US navy's non-commissioned ships, specifically those of the Military Sealift Command, are aviation-capable as well. The United States Coast Guard also has cutters that are aviation-capable. Also, with the growing technology in UAVs and UCAVs, virtually every ship afloat has, or will soon have, some type of aviation capability.
Other vessels
The following are examples of other types aviation-capable vessels from other navies around the world:| Type | National Navy | Class | Aircraft carried |
| Amphibious transport dock | Chilean Navy | 4 × helicopters | |
| Command ship | Royal Danish Navy | 2 × EH-101 helicopters | |
| Corvette | Israeli Navy | 1 × helicopter | |
| Cruiser | Russian Navy | 1 × Kamov Ka-25 or Kamov Ka-27 helicopter | |
| Destroyer | People's Liberation Army Navy | Type 052B or Guangzhou | 1 × Kamov Ka-27 helicopter |
| Dock landing ship | Royal Australian Navy | none | |
| Frigate | Royal Navy | Type 23 or Duke | 1 × Lynx HMA8 or 1 × Westland Merlin HM1 |
| Landing platform dock | Spanish Navy | 4 × SH-3 Sea King or 6 × NH-90 helicopters | |
| Landing Ship, Tank | Hellenic Navy | none | |
| Helicopter destroyer | Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force | 3 × SH-60K, 1 × MCH-101 |