Navalization

A Navalised (also navalized) type of aircraft is one that has been specifically designed for naval use, in some cases as a variant of a land-based design.
Characteristics
A navalised aircraft typically differs from its land-based equivalent by:
* The airframe, engine and avionics are marinised against salt water corrosion.
* It is designed to be used on a flight deck. For a fixed wing aircraft this typically means catapult attachment points, a tailhook and strengthened undercarriage. Naval helicopters usually have wheels rather than skids and may have mechanisms to attach to the deck.
* It is designed to occupy minimum hangar space - for example the wings, tail-boom or rotors may fold.
* There is enhanced protection against ingestion of water (including that from hosing down with fresh water to get rid of salt water).
* Equipment such as sensors and weapons are optimised for naval roles.
* The avionics is compatible with the complex electronic equipment of a warship.
* There is provision for ditching at sea.
* Helicopters may have provision for receiving fuel through the cabin while hovering adjacent to a ship.
For safety reasons the aviation fuel provided by ships may be a different fuel (e.g. AVCAT) from the fuel provided by airfields and tanker aircraft.
Examples
The T-45 Goshawk is a navalised version of the BAE Hawk jet trainer. Differences from the Hawk include changes to the undercarriage for aircraft carrier compatability and a strengthened airframe. The engine design was also modified for the aircraft's at-sea role. A proposed navalised version of the Alpha Jet would have had similar design modifications.
Other examples of navalised variants of land-based aircraft include:
* Supermarine Seafire
* Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk
* Sea Harrier

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