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If it can't launch fighter jets, then what is the sloped ramp used for?

Harriers. I don't know if ordinary fighter jets would even benefit from a ski jump, but the ski jump is to make up for how short the deck is (generally too short to launch a jet).

I thought harriers performed vertical takeoff, do they do traditional carrier launches as well?

Yes! Harriers can perform vertical takeoff, but they can carry much more weight launching horizontally. More weight means carrying more fuel and more weapons, which makes it much more useful.

See the links below; compare "max takeoff weight" for vertical takeoff ("VTO") and rolling takeoff (also called short takeoff, or "STO").

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAE_Harrier_II#Specifications_....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_AV-8B_Harrier...

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