USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (April 14, 2000) — USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7) are on a routine six-month deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean. Eisenhower is a nuclear powered aircraft carrier. U.S. Navy photo by PhotographerÕs Mate 3rd Class David E. Carter II. (RELEASED)
The U.S. Navy stands at a strategic crossroads, weighing the merits of its formidable aircraft carrier fleet against emerging threats posed by advancements in submarine and missile technology.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Jan. 15, 2010) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) shown operating off the coast of Haiti. Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 are conducting humanitarian and disaster relief operations in Haiti in response to the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake disaster. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Barker/Released)
As the Indo-Pacific theatre takes center stage in global geopolitics, the United States confronts a pivotal question: Should the Navy pivot towards a submarine-centric force to counter the sophisticated missile capabilities of near-peer adversaries?
The question is not just of tactical relevance, but of strategic importance, as the very survivability of American supercarriers—a symbol of U.S. naval supremacy—is scrutinized.
ATLANTIC OCEAN (Jan. 27, 2010) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting sea trials. George H.W. Bush will return to homeport at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. to begin the workup cycle towards deployment after an extensive seven-month post shakedown availability and selective restrictive availability trials. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Jason Winn/Released)
While these carriers have been a cornerstone of American force projection, capable of deploying airpower globally, they are increasingly at risk.
Recent war game exercises, such as the one where a French Rubis-class submarine successfully “sank” the USS Theodore Roosevelt in simulation, underscore the vulnerability of these maritime behemoths.
PERSIAN GULF (Jan. 23, 2008) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), left, performs a replenishment at sea with the Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81). Truman and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 are on a scheduled deployment in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jay C. Pugh (Released)
Moreover, the threat spectrum has widened with the advent of hypersonic missiles, raising the stakes for the Navy’s air defense capabilities.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (Sept. 8, 2010) Tugboats guide the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) on the Elizabeth River to its new berth at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Dwight D. Eisenhower will begin a six-month Planned Incremental Availability in October to refurbish and conduct intensive maintenance on shipboard systems. Dwight D. Eisenhower recently completed a seven-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)
The Houthi rebels’ use of anti-ship missiles in Yemen against a vastly superior U.S. Navy further highlights the evolving danger.
Amid these pressing concerns, a strategic reorientation seems overdue.
SAN DIEGO (July 29, 2009) The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 transits into San Diego prior to mooring at Naval Air Station North Island. Nimitz is preparing for a 2009 regularly scheduled Western Pacific Deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class John Philip Wagner Jr./Released)
Some defense experts argue for a nuanced approach—bolstering the submarine fleet while also incorporating agile surface warships into U.S. naval doctrine.
This pivot could potentially diffuse American firepower across a broader array of platforms, making it harder for adversaries to target U.S. forces while still maintaining a semblance of the airpower projection that carriers offer.
Pacific Ocean (July 25, 2005) Ð The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) performs a high speed run during operations in the Pacific Ocean. Reagan and embarked Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14) are currently underway conducting Tailored Ships Training Availability (TSTA). U.S. Navy photo by PhotographerÕs Mate 1st Class James Thierry (RELEASED)
The Gerald R. Ford, the newest carrier, comes with a staggering price tag of $13.3 billion, not to mention the millions required annually for maintenance and operation.
Indian Ocean (Mar. 15, 2005) – The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) underway in the Indian Ocean prior to flight operations. The Carl Vinson Strike Group is currently on deployment to promote peace and stability and respond to emergent events overseas. USS Carl Vinson will end its deployment with a homeport shift to Norfolk, Va., and will conduct a three-year refuel and complex overhaul. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Dusty Howell (RELEASED)
When viewed against the backdrop of cost, the burgeoning target profile of carriers, and their slow, ponderous movements in the water, the calculus of naval strategy becomes even more complicated.
NORFOLK (Feb. 13, 2009) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) transits up the Elizabeth River as it passes the downtown Norfolk waterfront after completing a successful and on-time six-month Planned Incremental Availability at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, VA. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Tyler Folnsbee/Released)
Even as the Navy deliberates the future composition of its fleet, it is clear that it stands not just at a point of tactical decision but at a strategic inflection point, one that will shape the contours of U.S. naval power for decades to come.
Relevant articles:
– The Future of U.S. Naval Power: Submarines vs. Aircraft Carriers, The National Interest
– The Aircraft Carrier Faces An Uncertain Future, nationalinterest.org
– Carrier vs submarine naval power in the Indo-Pacific, Universidad de Navarra
– An Analysis of the Navy’s Fiscal Year 2024 Shipbuilding Plan, Congressional Budget Office (.gov)