Which type of Navy ship typically carries a complement of aircraft?

The type of Navy ship that typically carries a complement of aircraft is the aircraft carrier. Aircraft carriers are specifically designed to support the operation of a variety of aircraft, including fighter jets, helicopters, and other support planes. They have a large flight deck and hangar space to accommodate these aircraft, allowing for operations such as launching, landing, and maintaining planes at sea. This capability enables the fleet to project air power over long distances, making aircraft carriers a central component of naval strategy and power projection.

In contrast, destroyers, submarines, and cruisers serve entirely different purposes within the Navy. Destroyers are mainly designed for anti-air and anti-surface warfare and do not carry a significant number of aircraft. Submarines are focused on stealth and underwater warfare capabilities, primarily operating below the surface without the ability to operate aircraft. Cruisers are larger surface ships that provide air defense and surface combat capabilities, but they also do not carry the same complement of aircraft as an aircraft carrier. Thus, the unique design and function of aircraft carriers specifically equip them to accommodate and operate aircraft, making them the correct answer.